TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Acting Director-General of Hajj and Umrah of the Religious Affairs Ministry, Khoirizi, said his side had not yet received any news regarding the permission for hajj pilgrimage from Saudi Arabia.

“Until now, we have not received any official notification about the opening of pilgrimage from outside of Saudi,” said Khoirizi in a statement on Monday, May 24, 2021.

He clarified issues circulating on social media that the Saudi government granted limited permission to pilgrims outside of the country to perform hajj this year. If the news is true even under a limited quota, he added, people should be grateful.

“Indonesian congregations have been waiting for a long time. Moreover, last year’s hajj pilgrimage was also postponed,” Khoirizi added.

The ministry, he said, continued to coordinate with Indonesian representatives in Saudi to get the latest official information that is vital as a reference for the government in making policies and preparing and mitigating the implementation of this year’s pilgrimage.

Khoirizi also said the ministry coordinated with WHO Indonesia and the Health Ministry regarding the Sinovac vaccine received by Indonesian would-be pilgrims. “Parties in the coordination meeting confirm there has been no official information issued by Saudi Arabia regarding pilgrimage affairs, including vaccines, flights, and others,” he said.

Read: Indonesia Welcomes Saudi Arabia's Decision to Hold 2021 Hajj Pilgrimage

FRISKI RIANA