"I can't imagine it," said Minister Qoumas during a joint working meeting with Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives here on Monday.
"I think we need to talk more seriously and in more detail because the quota given by the government of Saudi Arabia to our officers is only 2 thousand for next year," he added.
The minister said the quota allotted by Saudi Arabia is much smaller, or half the quota of 4,200 for Hajj officers in 2023.
The reduced quota for Hajj officers would be a new problem and have an impact on services for Hajj pilgrims, he added.
Moreover, the Hajj quota given by Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrims in 2024 is the same as the quota of 221 thousand in 2023.
This could pose a problem, considering that next year, the proportion of elderly Hajj pilgrims will still be high.
"(The quota of) 4,200 is still not enough. However, now we are only given a quota of two thousand for next year," he said.
The minister informed that he was not aware of the basis for the quota.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs, he said, is planning to hold a meeting with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and ask about this.
"We will ask the reason for giving 2 thousand quota for Hajj officers, while the quota for Hajj pilgrims is still 221 thousand," Minister Qoumas added.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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