Jakarta – The National Commission on Hajj and Umrah praised the federal government’s decision to not send out Muslims for the hajj trip to Saudi Arabia this year over rising safety issues amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
” Additionally, Indonesia is a nation that gets the largest portion of the hajj expedition quota, of 221 thousand people. For this reason, safety and security stay the primary areas of concern of the federal government,” the commission’s Chairman, Mustolih Siradj, informed reporters here on Tuesday.
Siradj likewise lauded that the decision was announced before the Saudi Arabian Kingdom’s pending decision on whether to proceed with this year’s hajj pilgrims.
Earlier today, the Indonesian federal government revealed its choice to not send Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
” The government has decided to not send Hajj pilgrims in 2020/1441 Hijriah,” Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi noted during a virtual interview on Hajj pilgrimage here on Tuesday.
Related news: Indonesia announces cancellation of Hajj trip 2020 in the middle of COVID-19
The Hajj trip stands cancelled in accordance with Religious Affairs Minister Regulation No. 494 of 2020 as the safety and health of pilgrims need to be prioritized, right from their departure to throughout the course of the pilgrimage and upon their return to the nation.
” This is a bitter and tough choice to take. We have actually made full-scale efforts, but on the other hand, we are accountable for the protection of Hajj pilgrims,” he stated.
The decision was handled the basis of an extensive study carried out by a team of the ministry and after consultation with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).
Saudi Arabia is yet to provide Hajj access to any country worldwide. The government is left with little time to prepare the services and protection for Hajj pilgrims, Razi mentioned.
” The choice applies to all Indonesian people, whether for routine Hajj trip or unique Hajj or mujamalah with invitation (from Saudi Arabia Kingdom),” the minister explained.
Some 2.5 million Muslims, of which 75 percent were from abroad, carried out Hajj pilgrimage in Capital, Saudi Arabia, in 2019.
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