Yudhoyono said that the government`s efforts had been fruitful considering that the hajj quota of Indonesia was increased by 10,000 pilgrims, from 211 thousand pilgrims to 221 pilgrims.
Solo, C Java (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the relevant agencies to give priority to elderly would-be hajj pilgrims.

"I have asked the Ministry of Religious Affairs to prioritize elderly people," the president said in a national thanks giving function on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the Indonesian Hajj Brotherhood Association (IPHI) here on Monday.

Yudhoyono said that the government was doing its best to improve the quality of hajj services. He said that the government`s efforts had been fruitful considering that the hajj quota of Indonesia was increased by 10,000 pilgrims.

It was increased from 211 thousand pilgrims to 221 pilgrims, he said. The hajj services have been increasing over the past five years."But we have to continue to carry out improvement," the president said.

The president and Mrs Ani Yudhoyono were in Solo to pay a working visit, among others to attend the 22nd anniversary of the Indonesian Hajj Solidarity Association.

Accompanying the head of states during the visit were House Speaker Marzuki Alie, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, Chief Welfare Minister Agung Laksono, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam, Informatics and Communications Minitser Tifatul Sembiring and President of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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