"President Jokowi called on us to ensure that the 2024 Hajj mission would provide the best Hajj services in his administration," the minister remarked in his closing speech for the Technical Guidance for Indonesian Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH) event in Jakarta on Wednesday (March 27).
Qoumas noted that the president conveyed the instruction while announcing Indonesia's success in securing an additional Hajj quota of 20 thousand people for this year's pilgrimage.
The minister then underlined that the score of the Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims' Satisfaction Index in 2022 stood above 90 percent, adding that the implementation of this year's Hajj should result in an even higher score.
To that end, he emphasized the vital role played by Hajj officers, saying that they should exert utmost efforts to provide the finest services to Indonesian pilgrims.
"We set a precedent last year when we sent home one officer who did not fulfill the tasks. We are not merely bluffing since we have been mandated with crucial duties," he pointed out.
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He pointed out that akin to last year, the Indonesian Government is raising "Elderly-friendly Hajj" as the theme of the 2024 Hajj Pilgrimage.
On that note, Qoumas affirmed that Hajj officers should not interpret serving the elderly and persons with disabilities as merely carrying them physically.
Instead, he said, Hajj officers should serve them comprehensively starting from the time the pilgrims arrive in Hajj dormitories in Indonesia to landing in Saudi Arabia and until returning to Indonesia.
"We will serve 42 thousand elderly pilgrims this year, which is a huge number. It is necessary to provide special services to them when they are in Hajj dormitories, Saudi Arabia, and back in Indonesia," he concluded.
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Translator: Asep F, Tegar Nurfitra Putra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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