Hajj Quota Has Not Been Fulfilled

The period for paying off costs for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage has ended. Hajj pilgrims are advised to maintain their health.

BONIFASIUS JOSIE SUSILO HARDIANTO

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba and pray at the Masjid al-Haram at the end of their pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on August 13, 2019.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — A total of 194,744 regular Hajj pilgrims have paid their travel costs Hajj at the end of the second repayment period. This means that there is remaining Indonesian Hajj quota.

Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, expressed optimism that the 2024 hajj quota will be fully utilized. This is because there are many prospective pilgrims on the waiting list.

Yaqut conveyed this during the closing of the Technical Guidance for the Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday evening, 27 March 2024, at the Hajj Dormitory in Pondok Gede, Jakarta. The technical guidance was attended by 1,120 participants.

Vice Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Ace Hasan Syadzily, stated that the preparation for this year's hajj had sufficient time, so it is expected to result in more optimal services.

Also read: Monitoring of Hajj Pilgrims Tightened

This is because Commission VIII DPR and the Ministry of Religion have decided on the cost of the Haj pilgrimage much earlier.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Hajj pilgrims pray while performing the Wukuf ritual at Jabal Rahmah or Arafah Field, southeast of the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday (27/6/2023).

Phase II repayment of Hajj (Bipih) travel costs for regular pilgrims 1445 Hijriah/2024 AD closed on Tuesday (26/3/2024).

"The payment period for the second phase of the hajj expenses for regular pilgrims has been closed. A total of 194,744 regular pilgrims have made the payment," said Saiful Mujab, Director of Domestic Hajj Services at the Ministry of Religious Affairs in a press statement in Jakarta.

There are those who are still calculating their settlement funds and provisions.

"The number of pilgrims who have completed the payment consists of 192,874 regular pilgrims, 1,484 regional hajj officials (PHD), and 386 Hajj and Umrah Guidance Groups (KBIHU)," he stated.

Consider extending repayment

The quota for Indonesian hajj pilgrims this year is 221,000 pilgrims. In addition, Indonesia also received an additional quota of 20,000. So, there is a total of 241,000 quotas, consisting of 213,320 regular hajj pilgrims and 27,680 special hajj pilgrims.

"This means there is remaining quota," said Saiful Mujab. Therefore, his party is considering plans to extend the repayment period.

KOMPAS/ADI PRINANTYO

Performing the dawn prayer in the mosque tent of the Indonesian congregation in Arafah, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday (27/6/2023) morning, before standing in worship during the day.

The Ministry of Religion has prepared a Decree of the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organizations regarding the criteria for pilgrims who are entitled to pay off the extension stage in full.

"At present, there are 26,351 pilgrims who have completed their payment but with a reserved status. They will fill the quota if there are still vacancies by the end of the payment period," he said.

The Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organization at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hilman Latif, previously explained that the second phase of payment facilitation was made to assist prospective pilgrims who failed in the payment system.

Also read: Hajj, Journey of Faith, More Comfortable Hope

This stage is also for combining prospective pilgrims with their mahrams or close relatives, to provide support for elderly prospective pilgrims. "Some are still calculating the funds required for payment and for provisions," he said.

Before paying for the Hajj pilgrimage expenses, prospective pilgrims must undergo a health screening and be declared healthy. Prospective pilgrims are expected to be relatively independent when they depart.