Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin hopes for the addition of fast-track services for Hajj pilgrims at more airports in the coming year.

Amin conveyed this in a press statement after reviewing the fast-track service at Adi Soemarmo Airport, Boyolali District, Central Java, on Friday.

"We hope next year we can have more of this service," he noted, according to a statement from the Vice Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau on Friday.

The vice president also commended the special treatment given by the Saudi Arabian government to Indonesia.

"We are the only country with three embarkations equipped with this service, spread in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Solo. This is because Indonesia's relations with Saudi Arabia are so close and so friendly," Amin highlighted.

He then drew attention to the advantages of the fast-track service, which allows quicker document check-ups for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims. Such a service can reduce pilgrims' exhaustion upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.

Related news: Good relations enabling fast-track entry of pilgrims in S Arabia: VP

According to Amin, the fast-track service can cut short the time taken for the document check-up process, from usually five hours in Jeddah, to only five minutes in Indonesia.

Regarding the long queue for the Indonesian people to carry out the Hajj pilgrimage, Amin remarked that the Indonesian government continues to seek additional quota for Hajj pilgrims from the Saudi Arabian government.

He said the requested quota is made for above 20 thousand pilgrims, considering the waiting time for the Hajj departure can reach up to 50 years in Indonesia.

"By God's will, the Saudi Arabian government will consider our proposal," he remarked.

On the occasion, the vice president also expressed the commitment of both countries to improve Hajj services every year.

"Health services and housing in Saudi Arabia are also getting better. This shows our efforts in improving services for Hajj," he revealed.

Accompanying the vice president in the press statement were Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Mudi, Initiative Supervisory Committee, Director General of Saudi Arabian Passports Lieutenant General Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al Yahya, Mayor of Solo Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Special Staff to the Vice President for Communication and Information Masduki Baidlowi.

Related news: 24 Hajj pilgrims detained in S Arabia for visa violation

Translator: Benardy Ferdiansyah, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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