Indonesia gets additional 10,000 hajj quota

Jakarta, NU OnlineThe Saudi government has complied the Indonesia request for additional 10,000 hajj quota so that the total number of Indonesian would-be hajj pilgrims this year increases to 221,000.The increase in the number of Indonesia`s hajj pilgrimage quota was disclosed by Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali upon his arrival at Soekarno-Hatta airport from Saudi Arabia here on Sunday (11/9).Accompanied by Secretary General of the Religious Affairs Ministry Bahrul Hayat and Directorate General for Hajj Affairs Slamet Riyanto, the minister was returning from checking the hajj preparations in Saudi Arabia.The minister said that about 7,000 of the additional quota would be given to regular hajj services so that the number of would-be regular hajj pilgrims increased to 201,000."Some 3,000 of the additional quota will be given to those who are going to perform hajj services under a special hajj pilgrimage program," the minister added as quoted by Antara news agency.Previously, the number of Indonesia`s hajj pilgrimage quota was 211,000, consisting of 194,000 would-be hajj pilgrims under a regular program and 17,000 under a special hajj pilgrimage program. (dar)

Selasa, 13 September 2011 | 01:00 WIB