REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MECCA -- The Indonesian Government got additional quota of 20 thousand people for Hajj season in 2016. The additional quota was a commitment of Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, that was already conveyed to President Joko Widodo and Minister of Religious Affairs who is also the Commander of Hajj, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin.
"This morning, Minister of Hajj of Saudi Arabia called me and said that Indonesia next year will get an extra quota of 20 thousand pilgrims," said Lukman, in Mecca, Sunday (20/9).
Republika reporter in Saudi Arabia, EH Ismail, reported that 20 thousand additional quota of Hajj was an accumulation of commitment of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Minister of Hajj Bandar Hajjar. When President Joko Widodo conducted a working visit to Saudi Arabia some time ago, King Salman said Indonesia will get an additional 10 thousand quota of Hajj next year. According to Lukman, the quota was increased again when the Minister of Hajj called him on Sunday morning.
"So in total we received 20 thousand extra quota," he added.
In the pilgrimage season this year, Indonesia actually obtain additional quota of 10 thousand people earned in the last week ahead of the departure of pilgrims from the country. Because of its short term, Indonesia was not agreed to the addition of the quota.
The reason was the government did not have enough time to perform the contract of lodging, catering, and transportation for pilgrims in the Saudi Arabia. Finally, Lukman asked, how if the additional quota was merged for next year, and the request then approved by Saudi Arabia.
In a statement to the press of Saudi Arabia, Minister of Hajj, Bandar Hajjar, said the Saudi government will increase the quota of Hajj pilgrims in the next year. The following the addition of nearly because of the Masjidil Haram expansion construction project that almost finished.
"Starting from next pilgrimage season, the number of pilgrims will be increased to five million, up to then to 30 million within the next five years," Bandar said, as quoted by Arab News.
This year, Indonesia received the Hajj quota of 168,800 people, consisting of 155,200 regular pilgrimage and 13,600 special pilgrimage. Since 2013, like other countries, Indonesian Hajj quota got cut by 20 percent because of Masjidil Haram expansion project.
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