PRESIDENT MUST ASK SAUDI KING TO ADD HAJJ PILGRIMS QUOTA

Jakarta, 9 Sha’ban 1434/18 June, 2013 (MINA) – An influential Indonesian Parliamentarian Hidayat Nur Wahid expects President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to communicate directly with the King of Saudi Arabia about adding Hajj Pilgrims quota for Indonesia in 2013.

“We recommend that the President communicate with the King of Saudi Arabia concerning hajj pilgrims quota in 2013. I think it will not be degrading a dignity of a president, but just the opposite,” Hidayat told Mi’raj News Agency in Jakarta, Monday (17/6).

According to Hidayat, the government of Saudi Arabia do not easily grant the request of a certain country, it is because there are numerous requests from other Muslim countries regarding pilgrims quota.

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“Demand for Pilgrims quota could be granted if the lobby is done by the president, not the minister,” said Hidayat.

“Currently, the Masjidil Haram is being renovated and have some expansion for Thawaf space, but the expansion and renovations are expected to be completed before Ramadan, but the target has not already completed yet,” said Hidayat.

He said, although the King of Saudi Arabia has given unlimited budget for the cost of the expansion, but it can not accelerate its development.

“I am concerned with the reduction in Pilgrims quota especially from Indonesia. It will have social impacts for the pilgrims who are already looking forward to get going, but the fact it can not be realized ” he added.

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Based on a letter from the Ministry of Hajj Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that was received on Thursday, June 6, 2013, it is said that due to delays in the completion of renovation of the Masjidil Haram and to ensure the safety of pilgrims, the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reduced the quota of pilgrims for each country around the world in 2013 by 20 percent.

The policy also applies to pilgrims from Indonesia. Pilgrims from Indonesia will be proportionately reduced 20 percent.

However, Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali said the government will seek all opportunities to lobby the government of Saudi Arabia. Cutting 20 persent is not a final decision yet for Indonesia. (L/P015/P04/P02/P05/E1)

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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)