This Years’ Hajj Services Are Improved, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi and First Lady Ibu Iriana on the hajj pilgrimage 15 years ago (Photo: President Jokowi’s Facebook Page)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo stated that services enjoyed by more than 200,000 Indonesian hajj pilgrims this year will be much better compared to ones he enjoyed when he was on the hajj pilgrimage 15 years ago.

The Government has created various breakthroughs and to improve the services. This year, biometric records containing fingerprints and images of the pilgrims are made in Indonesia, not in Jeddah or Madinah to avoid long queue on their arrival in Saudi Arabia.

The President recalled his hajj pilgrimage with First Lady Ibu Iriana in 2013. At that time, at the Holy Land, he witnessed the Indonesian pilgrims enjoyed services provided by the Government since departure until arrival, such as transportation, accommodation, food, health services, and worship guidance.

This year, the Government books 165 hotels in Makkah and 107 hotels in Madinah; which 32 of them have been booked for one season of hajj pilgrimage, do not share the hotels with pilgrims from other countries. Thus, they do not have to worry with the time limit of their staying.

“Our pilgrims will also enjoy real Indonesian food, with Indonesian spices, cooked by Indonesian chefs,” the President said while adding that catering services for the pilgrims will be increased from 25 times, to 40 times this year. Besides the main meals, they will also get tea, sugar, coffee, chili sauce, soy sauce, and bread. In addition to that, the pilgrims will also receive living cost amounting to 1,500 riyal.

President Jokowi added that Ministry of Religious Affairs has established First Aid Team for Hajj Pilgrims (P3JH) consisting of officers who have medical cappacities to support health services on the peak of hajj pilgrimage. “Reflecting from the previous years, there were a lot of pilgrims who need health services at Jamarat and Mina. The President emphasized that these innovations were created to ease the pilgrims performing their acts of worship and return to their home country in a good health. (ES) (MMB/YM/Naster)