Gov’t Affirms Commitment to Reducing Hajj Fee, Building Indonesian Village in Mecca

Photo Caption: President Prabowo Subianto remarks at Plenary Cabinet Meeting at State Palace Jakarta on Monday (20/10). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto has affirmed his commitment to improving Hajj service to Indonesian pilgrims through some efficiencies and greater diplomacy with the government of Saudi Arabia.

According to the President, the establishment of Ministry of Hajj marked the adjustment with the government of Saudi Arabia bureaucracy, which has a Minister for Hajj.

“We establish Ministry of Hajj based on the request of the government of Saudi Arabia. This is because in Saudi Arabia, the Hajj is managed by a Minister. Therefore, they asked for the same level of authority to manage. Previously, we had a Head of Agency, but this is not a Minister,” President Prabowo stated at the Plenary Cabinet Meeting at State Palace Jakarta, Monday (20/10).

The President also explained that this new Ministry has proven its efficiency in reducing the Hajj fee, adding that he also called for continuing measures to reduce the Hajj fee by more efficiencies and with good governance.

“Alhamdulillah, we have cut the Hajj fee, and I asked Minister of Hajj, who is in Saudi Arabia working with their authority, to continue their work in reducing the Hajj fee through efficiencies, transparency, and good governance,” he added.

President Prabowo Subianto also noted the success in reducing the waiting period for Hajj departure, while emphasizing that the previous waiting period was 40 years [from application submission to the departure], but now it is cut to 26 years.

He also noted the diplomatic achievement between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, which is the agreement on the establishment of the Indonesian Village (Kampung Indonesia) in Mecca.

“Alhamdulillah, for the first time, the government of Saudi Arabia has agreed on the establishment of the Indonesian Village at Mecca. This is because of our hard work and efforts to make this come true; maybe they pity us [jokes]. For the first time, a foreign country has been permitted to own land in the sacred city of Mecca. They changed their law specially for us. We are the first country,” said the President.

The Head of State also noted that the land is in a strategic location – very close to Masjid al-Haram [the Great Mosque of Mecca], while emphasizing that the Indonesian Village will accommodate Indonesian pilgrims more efficiently by direct and strategic management.

This milestone, he added, will address the inefficiencies and challenges felt by Indonesian pilgrims.

“Later, we can manage the facilities. This includes the food service, so there will be no more inefficiencies or disappointment felt by Indonesian pilgrims. This is a remarkable achievement,” he concluded.  (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RD/EP)