DDHK.ORG - Pemerintah Indonesia officially decided not to send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year 2021. This assurance was conveyed directly by the Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
"Determining the cancellation of the departure of hajj pilgrims during the 1442 Hijri pilgrimage or 2021 AD for Indonesian citizens who use the Indonesian hajj quota and other hajj quotas," said Yaqut, Thursday (3/6/2021).
Yaqut claimed to have met with President Joko Widodo at the Palace regarding the decision. During the meeting, Yaqut and Jokowi discussed the fate of prospective Indonesian pilgrims this year.
Previously, Yaqut said the Saudi Arabian government had not provided certainty regarding the quota of 1,8 percent of Indonesian pilgrims. The confirmation should have been conveyed by Saudi Arabia on May 28.
Until a week after passing the deadline, Yaqut admitted that he would still make a decision, with or without certainty from Saudi Arabia. "Of course we can't stand idly by, we have prepared technically. We also have to make decisions. I agree that we must make this decision, with or without an announcement from Saudi Arabia," Yaqut said in a meeting at Commission VIII, Monday (31/5/2021).
This is the second year that Indonesia has not sent hajj pilgrims due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, Indonesia also did not send pilgrims for the pilgrimage to the Holy Land. [Source: CNN Indonesia] [DDHK News]
