"With the opening of the Hajj quota of one million pilgrims this year, it must be welcomed and prepared as well as possible. The government must move quickly to maximize diplomacy, so that Indonesia can get the maximum quota," Maharani noted in a statement, in Jakarta, Friday.
The speaker affirmed that Muslims in Indonesia had long awaited to return to conduct Hajj.
For the second year in a row, Indonesia was unable to send Muslims to the holy land, as the Hajj was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, Saudi Arabia only opened a quota of one thousand Hajj pilgrims for its citizens. Thereafter, in the following year, the quota increased to 60 thousand, though it was still reserved for the citizens of Saudi Arabia.
Maharani spoke of having urged Commission VIII of the DPR to immediately hold a meeting with the religious affairs minister to follow up on the Saudi Arabian decision.
Related news: MPR deputy speaker asks govt to seek bigger Hajj quota
As a result, the DPR and the minister of religious affairs also approved the 2022 Hajj Organizing Fee (BPIH) of IDR 39,886,009.
Furthermore, Maharani drew attention to the government's duty to lobby Saudi Arabia and ensure that Indonesia received an adequate number of hajj quotas.
"Even if it is possible, Indonesia could be given an additional quota from the rest of the Hajj quotas from other countries that are not absorbed," Maharani affirmed.
In addition to the issue of Hajj quota, she also reminded the government that preparations for the departure of the congregation and the provision of facilities for Hajj pilgrims should be carried out as optimally as possible.
Reflecting on her experiences while serving as coordinating minister for human development and culture (Menko PMK) during the 2014-2019 period, Maharani reminded all parties to work together to ensure that the Hajj pilgrimage this year was successful.
"Hajj pilgrims from Indonesia must be able to enjoy various services to handle basic to even the smallest problems, including the availability of drinking water for pilgrims in the face of hot storms in the Holy Land," she remarked.
Related news: Indonesia to optimize any provided Hajj pilgrim quota in 2022
Related news: Ministry urges associations to help disseminate Hajj requirements
Translator: Syaiful H, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
