Indonesia To Provide Best Service For Its Hajj Pilgrims

JAKARTA, April 24 (Antara) - The Indonesian government, which will send 221 thousand would-be Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year, promises to provide best services for pilgrims during pilgrimage rituals. In this case, the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) are also increasing coordination with the management of the Hajj pilgrimage. At least three ministers had a meeting in Medina, Saudi Arabia, to discuss preparations for the hajj services. The three ministers, who held a coordination meeting with the DPR, are Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, and Health Minister Nila F Moeloek. "The House lauds the coordination carried out by the ministers to ensure best services for Hajj pilgrims," Marwan Dasapong, the vice chairman of Commission VIII on Religious Affairs of the DPR, noted in a written statement received in Jakarta on Monday (April 23). Maharani and Moeloek arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday night (April 20) to oversee the preparations for the implementation of Indonesian Hajj rituals. Meanwhile, Saifuddin arrived in Medina on Saturday night (April 21). He teamed up with Maharani and Moeloek and left for Mecca on Sunday to observe the Hajj service preparations. During their stay in Mecca, the three ministers will visit health facilities for the Indonesian Hajj pilgrims and hotels for their accommodation. For this year's Hajj implementation, Indonesia will send a total of 221 thousand would-be Hajj pilgrims, or the largest number among world Muslim countries. Based on Religious Affairs Minister¿s Decision No. 109 Year of 2018, the Indonesian Hajj quota of 221 thousand included 204 thousand regular Hajj pilgrims and 17 thousand special Hajj pilgrims. Up to Friday (April 20), a total of 130,414 would-be regular Hajj pilgrims had paid their pilgrimage management cost (BPIH). This means that about 64.41 percent would-be pilgrims had paid their BPIH cost. Head of the Hajj Registration Unit of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Noer Aliya Fitra, revealed that out of the 221 thousand regular Hajj pilgrims, 202,487 are would-be Hajj pilgrims and 1,513 are members of Regional Hajj Official Team (TPHD). President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has signed a presidential decision No. 7 Year of 2018 on BPIH Cost on April 10, 2018. The hajj pilgrimage cost varies from one region to another. The lowest cost is Rp31.09 million for Aceh Embarkation Point, and the highest one is Rp38.79 million for Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara) Embarkation Point. It is expected that the implementation of the Hajj management services will continue to be improved. Last year's pilgrimage has a positive outcome marked by an increase in the Hajj service satisfaction index. This year, the services should be better. After all, this is for the first time that the government and the House are coordinating for the implementation of the country's Hajj pilgrimage services. Vice Chairman of Commission VIII, Dasapong, noted that the DPR has highlighted several aspects that should be monitored and carried out in future, such as health services, lodging around Markaziah, GPS utilization to prevent pilgrims from getting lost, air-conditioning facilities in tents during wukuf in Arafah, and arrangement of pilgrims in Mina to not exceed capacity. Maharani lauded various inputs offered by Commission VII of the DPR and stated that the government and the DPR must ensure that the Hajj implementation would be better this year. Maharani praised all parties that are working together to prepare for the implementation of the 2018 Hajj pilgrimage programs. She invited all parties to remain committed to providing the best services to the community, especially Indonesian pilgrims. "Let us work together to provide the best services to pilgrims, thereby demonstrating that the government is looking forward to serving and improving the performance of the pilgrims' satisfaction index over the last three years," Maharani added. Syaifuddin explained that limited electricity supply has restricted the use of air conditioning during wukuf, and so water splash fans will be arranged for pilgrims. The religious affairs ministry lauded the DPR Commission VIII for approving the cost of Hajj pilgrimage much earlier, so that the ministry has sufficient time to make preparations for the pilgrimage. In the meantime, Moeloek explained that her side was ready to synergize with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, especially for improving health services and increasing awareness on the hot weather conditions that can lead to heat stroke among pilgrims. The monitoring and evaluation meeting for Hajj was the second coordination meeting held by the Indonesian government in Saudi Arabia.