Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Religious Affairs Ministry urged the Government of Saudi Arabia to immediately include the additional Hajj quota earned by Indonesia in the E-Hajj system, so the ministry can prepare properly for the next Hajj pilgrimage.

"We are still coordinating with the Saudi Arabian government to ensure the inclusion of the additional Hajj quota to the E-Hajj system," Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas stated during a meeting with Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Monday.

Indonesia has earned an additional Hajj quota of 20 thousand for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage as one of the results of the meeting held between President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud, in Saudi Arabia in October this year.

With the additional quota, Indonesia will allow as many as 241 thousand people to perform next year's pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

However, Minister Qoumas noted that information on the additional quota has not yet appeared in the E-Hajj system, which contains various kinds of information related to pilgrimage, including quotas for pilgrims and officers.

"The additional quota will only be guaranteed after it is included in the E-Hajj system," he stated.

Based on the plan, the additional quota will be distributed to 18,400 people from the list of regular pilgrims and 1,600 special pilgrims, he added.

He explained that the additional quota for regular pilgrims will be distributed to pilgrims according to the order in the list and those who have never performed a pilgrimage, or pilgrims that have performed the religious ritual at least 10 years prior.

"And those being at least 18 years of age on May 13 of 2024 or having married," he added.

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Translator: Asep F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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