Gov’t to Distribute Extra Hajj Quota to All Provinces

Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin answers questions from the journalists after attending a limited cabinet meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (18/4). Photo by: JAY/PR.

The Government is committed to provide facilities and all related matters to follow up 10,000 extra hajj quota for Indonesian hajj pilgrims granted by the Saudi Arabia, according to Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin.

“Ministry of Religious Affairs has pledged to be ‘all out’ to provide facilities and all related matters to follow up 10,000 extra hajj quota for our hajj pilgrims,” ??the Minister told the journalists after attending a limited cabinet meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (18/4).

Lukman added that the extra quota needs an additional funding because the increase of the number of pilgrims requires additional hajj officers.

“(The funding) will be obtained from the BPKH (Hajj Financial Management Agency), from the efficiency in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and of course from the State Budget, especially for additional officers,” the Minister explained.

He went on to say that the exact number of additional budget will be discussed with Commission 8 of the House of Representatives next Tuesday.

“We cannot give the exact number (of the additional budget) because we are currently reviewing the budget. I will not disclose the budget to the public before I inform the House,” he said.

Lukman further said that the additional hajj quota will be proportionally distributed to all provinces, with the main priority is for the elderly and their assistants. (UN/JAY/ES)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Mia Medyana