Tents Of Indonesian Congregations In Arafah Have Been Integrated 80 Percent

Hajj Preparations (ANTARA)

"The installation of tents for Indonesian pilgrims in the Arafah Field reaches around 80 percent, some even have installed electrical installations and air conditioning (AC)," said Head of the Saudi Arabia Hajj Organizing Officer (PPIH) 1444 Hijri/2023 AD, Subhan Cholid.

"We are monitoring the progress of the preparation of facilities in Arafah and Mina carried out by Syarikah or Muassasah. Monitoring was carried out in advance to ensure that there was good progress from the preparations made by Muassasah," said Subhan Cholid, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, May 27.

To continue to provide comfort, continued Subhan, this year the floor of the tent in Arafah is covered in sand before being installed with carpets and foam mattresses, so it is hoped that the surface will be more flat and comfortable.

"Earlier we asked that the lighting in the tent be even brighter, because the congregation often took advantage of the time in Arafah to read the Koran. We also checked the number of electricity switches," he said.

Subhan said the tent area in Arafah was quite diverse, ranging from 250 m2, 300 m2, 375 m2, to the largest 600 m2, and the number of prospective hajj candidates in each tent was adjusted to the area of space. On average, each prospective hajj candidate gets an area of 1.5 - 1.6 m2.

"In addition to the tent, we also checked the Arafah toilet. Some renovations have been carried out, but we ask Syarikah to immediately prepare additional toilets in every maktab," said Subhan.

Regarding efforts to reduce long queues in toilets, Subhan assessed that the existence of additional toilets in Arafah was very important, so that it could increase the comfort of the congregation. Moreover, land is possible, because the Arafah area is quite wide.

"The Minister's Governor (Minister of Religion) really cares about the additional toilets in Arafah so that they can be used by the congregation. Checking the readiness of services in Arafah will be carried out regularly. Next Monday we will check again to see the progress," he said.

Apart from Arafah, checking facilities is also carried out in Mina tents which will be occupied by Indonesian pilgrims at least three nights at the earliest, different in Arafah pilgrims only staying overnight.

"Earlier we checked the tent at Mina. The floor, which used to be a brick, has been installed with ceramics. Mina's toilet is also being renovated, although it cannot be added because the land is very limited. However, the condition must be good so that the congregation is comfortable using it. Toilets are also made to be elderly and disabled friendly," said Subhan Cholid.

Monitoring of the preparation of facilities in Mina will be carried out regularly, with the hope that everything will be ready on 6 Zulhijjah 1444 H or three days before the peak of the hajj (wukuf). Indonesian pilgrims are scheduled to enter the hometown of the Prophet Muhammad starting June 2, 2023.