- ANTARA/Adnan
VIVAnews - The government of Saudi Arabia met Indonesia's request to increase the quota of hajj pilgrims. This year, Indonesia received an additional quota of 10,000. So on the 2011 hajj season, the number of pilgrims bound to Saudi Arabia reached 211,000.
"The meeting with the government of Saudi Arabia resulted in Indonesia’s 211 hajj quota being 211,000 pilgrims," said Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali during a press conference yesterday.
Suryadharma said the demanded additional hajj quota was based on the results of a national census in 2010. "The Saudi Arabian government granted the unfixed additional quota as many as 10,000 pilgrims. So the total Indonesian hajj pilgrims to be departed this year may amount to 221,000," said Suryadharma.
The number of 211,000 comprises 194,000 for regular pilgrims and 17,000 for special pilgrims. According to him, the additional pilgrim quota of 10,000 will be allocated for regular pilgrims as many as 7,000 people and special pilgrims 3,000. "So the regular pilgrims total 201,000 and special pilgrims 20,000," said Suryadharma.
The additional quota will be prioritized for hajj pilgrims aged above 60 years. "The priority of the additional quota is for pilgrims of 60 years of age or older," he continued.
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Coverage by: Muhammad Iyus | Tangerang
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