"I will leave for Saudi Arabia this evening. Yes, I will discuss this issue among other things," he said here on Friday.
"My visit to Jeddah is to meet the Saudi minister of hajj affairs in the framework of asking for a quota increase. I will propose a quite big increase," he said.
The minister did not tell the exact number he would submit to the Saudi government but would refer it to the Saudi government to decide. "We hope there will be an increase in 2011," he said.
During his working visit until March 7, the minister would also use the opportunity of his visit to Saudi Arabia to present problems met during the 2010 hajj pilgrimage to the local government especially obstacles at the immigration office and airport in Jeddah.
The minister said he would also ask for easing in minor hajj pilgrimage as from year to year there are always obstacles hindering its implementation.
He said right now no less than 5,000 people have difficulties getting visas for minor hajj pilgrimage as the regulation for it is always changing. "That is what we are also going to tell to them," he said.
He said he would also tell about problems at the local immigration service such as those found last year. He said the number of entrances and exits at the local airport for Indonesian pilgrims is still short so that service to the pilgrims could not be maximum.
He said it had caused a long queue and as a result a lot of time was wasted.
The minister said he would also tell about problems that had slowed embarkation of the pilgrims namely luggages that the pilgrims carried which were often too heavy.
"Sometimes immigration officers there unload them again which takes time," he said.
H-YH/HAJM/S012
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
