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Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin (right) during a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, Tawfiq Fawzan Muhammed Alrabiah, in Jakarta on Tuesday (April 30, 2024). (ANTARA/Benardy Ferdiansyah/rst) - 

VOInews, Jakarta - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin met with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, Tawfiq Fawzan Muhammed Alrabiah, on Tuesday to discuss the implementation of the 1445 Hijriah/2024 Hajj and additional Hajj quota for Indonesia.

"During the meeting, Indonesia expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for providing an additional quota amounting to 20 thousand for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims," special staff to the vice president for communications and information, Masduki Baidlowi, informed.

According to him, Vice President Amin expressed the hope that the Saudi Arabian government would continue to provide additional Hajj quota to Indonesia every year.

"Our waiting time for Hajj is too long. With a continuous additional quota with the current number, it is expected to ease the burden for the Indonesian government in the next five to ten years," Baidlowi added.

He informed that in certain areas such as South Sulawesi or East Java, the waiting time for the Hajj pilgrimage can reach more than 20 years.

He said that the Vice President often receives complaints about it when he visits the regions.

"Every time the Vice President visits various regions, the question is always whether we can go on Hajj or whether we will die before the time for the Hajj comes," Baidlowi added.

During the meeting, the two leaders also discussed the overall implementation of the Hajj, including efforts to improve the quality of management and implementation of Hajj in the field.

"The Vice President also conveyed his hopes for the cooperation between the two countries. He wanted the two parties to continue the management of Hajj with better and more efficient management, including financing for government and Indonesian Hajj pilgrims as well," Baidlowi said.

He explained that this is important because the Saudi Arabian government is intensively trying to improve the tourism sector, including Hajj and Umrah religious tourism, to reduce its economic dependence on the oil and natural gas sector//Antara-VOI