Had Go Down Because Of COVID-19, Now Hajj Quota For Rejang Lebong Residents Back To Normal 232 People

The Integrated Hajj and Umrah Service Office (PLHUT) Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province. ANTARA

REJANG LEBONG - The Office of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) of Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province, said that the regional hajj quota in 2023 returned to its original figure as before COVID-19, which was 232 people. Head of the Rejang Lebong Rejang Office, Nopian Gustari, said that the hajj quota in the 2022 hajj season was only 106 people. This number is reduced from the previous quota due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is limited by the Saudi Arabian government. "Alhamdulillah, this year's Hajj quota has returned to normal. For Bengkulu Province, there were 1,636 people and Rejang Lebong Regency returned to 232 people. Meanwhile, last year 1443 Hijri there were 106 people," he said accompanied by the Head of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) M Adityawarman in Rejang Lebong, Antara, Tuesday, January 10. He explained that currently his party is still waiting for a written letter from the Bengkulu Provincial Regional Office regarding the return of the hajj quota received by Rejang Lebong Regency. With the return of the Rejang Lebong Hajj quota, as in the 2019 Hajj season as many as 232 people, he said, it would reduce the waiting list for residents who had registered for Hajj. "If the information we get from the Bengkulu Provincial Ministry of Religion Regional Office in addition to the quota is returned to its original state, there is also no age restriction. So the age of 65 this year can still go," he explained. So far, the number of people in Rejang Lebong Regency who have registered to go for Hajj has now reached 4,850 people, if reduced by a hajj quota of 232 people, it will only expire in the next 20 years or until 2043. He hopes that in the future the quota for Hajj in Rejang Lebong Regency can be increased, so that it can reduce the regional hajj waiting list.