TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas left for Saudi Arabia in the early hours of Wednesday, May 18, 2022. The visit was reportedly aimed at ensuring that Indonesian hajj pilgrims will be able to depart starting June 4, 2022.

“This is the first departure of pilgrims after being delayed for two years due to the pandemic. I want to make sure all services for pilgrims are ready,” he said in a written statement.

Accompanied by the Director General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) Hilman Latief, Director of Foreign Hajj Services Subhan Cholid, as well as special staffers and experts, Yaqut said he would monitor all hajj services for pilgrims.

“We will check the readiness of catering services, transportation, accommodation, health services, and others. The point is that pilgrims must be served as well as possible,” he emphasized.

In addition, he would also ensure that three aspects of hajj pilgrimage, namely coaching, serving, and protection, are adhered to by the officers.

PHU Director General Hilman Latief added that the service procurement process in Saudi had been going on for the last two months. This year, he mentioned, Indonesia's Hajj quota was set at 100,051 pilgrims or 50 percent of the available quota before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. The figure consists of 92,825 quotas for regular pilgrims and 7,226 quotas for special pilgrims.

“Pilgrims will start flying to Saudi Arabia on June 4, 2022. So, the readiness of all services must be ensured,” said Hilman.

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ARRIJAL RACHMAN