I was a regular Hajj pilgrim in 2004, and (at that time, the facilities were) inadequateMekkah (ANTARA) - The facilities provided at tents that Indonesian pilgrims will use during their stay at Arafat Plain have improved significantly compared to previous Hajj seasons, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has said.
The facilities at the tents, including toilets and mattresses, will be ready before Hajj pilgrims arrive in the plains in the next few days, he affirmed.
"I was a regular Hajj pilgrim in 2004, and (at that time, the facilities were) inadequate. The current facilities are much more comfortable," Qoumas said while recalling his past Hajj pilgrimage during a visit to review the facilities for pilgrims in Arafat Plain, near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.
The provision of mattresses and pillows for pilgrims is a significant improvement, as, in the past, tents in Arafat Plain were covered only with carpets, which some pilgrims would have found uncomfortable, he added.
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"It feels good when I tried the mattress. I also feel the carpet, and my back is aching because of the uneven surface," he remarked.
The minister said he expected the air conditioners installed in each tent to be cooler to ensure Hajj pilgrims can perform rituals more comfortably during their stay.
During his visit, the minister also reviewed the toilets prepared for the pilgrims and checked the taps to ensure water was flowing through them.
He commended the number of toilets available while highlighting the importance of ensuring an adequate number of toilets so that Hajj pilgrims do not need to wait too long to use them.
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"I hope that the portable toilets for women pilgrims can be increased because there are more women pilgrims, who need longer time while using the toilet," the minister said.
The authorities must also ensure that the increase in Hajj accommodation fee, known as the Masyair fee, is proportional to the improvement in services provided to pilgrims.
"We will recalculate and renegotiate (the fee) with the local administrator. Overall, (the current service) is better than earlier despite some issues that we need to discuss with the local administrator," the minister remarked.
Indonesian Hajj pilgrims are expected to proceed from Mecca to the Arafat Plain on July 7 to perform wuquf -- compulsory stay at the Arafat during Hajj -- on July 8, which will coincide with the 9th day of Dhu al-hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, before Eid al-Adha, which falls the next day.
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Translator: Desi Purnamawati, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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