"God Willing, I will personally send off the first batch of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims departing from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on May 12, 2024,"Jakarta (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas departed for Saudi Arabia for final checks on preparations for Hajj services ahead of the first arrivals of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims on May 12, 2024.
"I will conduct the checks in Mecca, Medina, as well as to (evaluate) the readiness of facilities in the Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina areas," Qoumas noted as per the statement here on Tuesday.
The minister departed for Saudi Arabia in the early morning of May 7. He will be in Saudi Arabia for four days before returning home on May 11.
During the visit, the minister will meet local contractors to check their readiness to serve Indonesian Hajj pilgrims appropriate to their service fields and responsibilities.
Qoumas will also ensure mitigation steps are in place to ensure smooth proceedings of the Hajj for Indonesian pilgrims and prevent the recurrence of past deficiencies.
"In Mecca or Medina, we will check the readiness of hotels and food for the pilgrims. We will also monitor the readiness of our shuttle bus terminal at Syib Amir and Ajyad areas in Mecca," Qoumas stated.
Before the first departure of Hajj pilgrims on May 12, the ministry sent off Indonesian Hajj organizing officers (PPIH) at earlier dates, with the officers' advance team departing for Saudi Arabia on May 2.
Meanwhile, Hajj officers assigned at Saudi airports and in Medina will depart on May 8, and officers assigned in Mecca will depart on May 15.
"God Willing, I will personally send off the first batch of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims departing from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on May 12, 2024," he remarked.
During this year's Hajj season, Indonesia received a Hajj quota of 241 thousand comprising 213,320 for regular Hajj and 27,680 for special Hajj.
Meanwhile, the first batch of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims will depart on May 12, and the first flights of pilgrims under the special Hajj programme will start on May 23.
Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Arie Novarina
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