2,163 Pilgrims From Bekasi Will Depart For Hajj This Year, First Group Departs May 23

BEKASI - Head of the Bekasi Regency Ministry of Religion Office, West Java, Asnawi said the hajj quota from the area amounted to 2,163 people who would be dispatched to the Holy Land during this year's Hajj season.

Asnawi detailed that as many as 1,013 prospective hajj pilgrims were postponed pilgrims in 2020 and 2021, as many as 122 people were postponed in 2022, the congregation ordered 952 people, and 76 priority elderly people.

"Yes, it is true that something has been delayed in 2020 and 2021. Then in 2022 there will be departures, but there is an age limitation of 65 years and under, because it is already a provision from Saudi Arabia," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, May 8.

He said the national first flying group (cluter) is scheduled to depart on May 23, 2023, while pilgrims from Bekasi Regency are still waiting for the process of distributing groups or qur'ah.

"Just a moment away, only for Bekasi Regency, we are still waiting for qur'ah," he said.

Another ongoing process is the creation of biometric visas. This biometric visa is a Saudi Arabian government policy and all pilgrims are required to fill in through the Saudi Visa Bio application.

"Among other things, such as uploading photos, fingerprints, and passports. Making this biometric visa can be done in the Hajj and Umrah Guidance Group for pilgrims who are members of the KBIHU. Non-KBIHU congregations can be independent or later can be facilitated by us," he said.

Asnawi appreciated the Hajj service policy under the coordination of the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas so that Indonesia received an award from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The award was obtained because Indonesia was considered to have provided optimal Hajj services during the arrival process until the congregation returned to the country.

Asnawi appealed to prospective pilgrims to immediately pay the Hajj fee for the smooth running of worship. Until last weekend, the payment of this fee had only reached 69 percent. "Until the 5th yesterday, 1,889 people have paid, so there are still 271 more pilgrims who have not paid," he said.

The government provides relief in the form of an extension of the deadline until May 17, 2023 for pilgrims who have not paid their Hajj fees.

"Hopefully the available quota is really used, hopefully this quota will be used by people who are ready this year," he said.