VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The General Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (the largest Islam organization in Indonesia), Said Aqil Siroj, appreciated the government for accommodating an additional 10 thousand hajj pilgrims in the Indonesian hajj quota, following President Joko Widodo's visit to Saudi Arabia.

"On behalf of Muslims, we express our appreciation. Thank you [to the] Saudi King and President Jokowi (Joko Widodo)," Said Agil told reporters here Monday.

He said the additional hajj quota was confirmed following President Jokowi's meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.

"President Jokowi met King Salman. There has been confirmation about the additional quota of 10 thousand that takes the total to 231 thousand (Indonesian hajj pilgrims)," he noted. (ant)

Said added that the additional quota will benefit Indonesians who have to wait for long for hajj departures.

According to him, this additional quota is expected to provide older people an opportunity to undertake hajj sooner than expected.

"It is definite that prospective older hajj pilgrims would get a better opportunity," he said.  

Indonesia's General Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) will immediately convey final clarifications and recommendations on the elections taking place in Malaysia.

"Today, Ms. Dewi (member of Bawaslu Ratna Dewi Pettalolo) and Mr. Bagja (Rahmat Bagja) have returned (from Kuala Lumpur)," Bawaslu member Fritz Edward Siregar said in Jakarta on Monday.

Siregar made his statement after delivering a call for Peaceful Election and anti-hoax by the National Movement for Digital Literacy Siberkreasi, the Indonesian Film Artist Union (Parfi) 56, and Bawaslu.

"Later tonight, we will conduct a plenary meeting, so that at least tomorrow morning or afternoon we can provide a final clarification and reveal Bawaslu's recommendations on the process to be carried out," he said.

Fritz refused to comment on allegations of horse trading in the elections, saying that he still had to wait for clarification from the two Bawaslu commissioners who had just returned from Kuala Lumpur.

"You have to wait for a clarification from Ms. Dewi and Mr. Bagja who have just returned from Kuala Lumpur," he said.

Fritz hinted that the board's recommendations for the voting process that had taken place in Malaysia would soon be issued.

"We will decide tonight the recommendations on the voting process in Malaysia, whether it was done by post, mobile voting box, or via polling stations, which was carried out yesterday," he said.

Previously, a short video showing people raiding an empty shop house in Bandar Baru Bangi area, Selangor, Malaysia went viral last week.

Inside the shop, a number of bags containing ballot papers were found, and it had been marked in favor of a certain presidential candidates pair.

The ballots were also cast for several legislative candidates from certain political parties.

resident Joko Widodo was warmly welcomed by the Royal Crown Prince of Saudi Muhammad bin Salman at a meeting held at the Palace of the Crown Prince of Riyadh on Sunday night (14/4). In addition to holding bilateral meetings, the Crown Prince also entertained the President in a dinner together.

The Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi who accompanied the President during the bilateral meeting said that Indonesia-Saudi Arabia agreed to establish a leader-level consultation mechanism and hold meetings once a year.

"Indonesia-Saudi also agreed to immediately hold a meeting to discuss investment and other economic cooperation," said Retno.

Saudi Arabia is interested in collaborating in the fields of energy and petro chemistry. This was conveyed again by the Crown Prince.

President Jokowi also said that Indonesia wanted to be part of the implementation of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

"The Crown Prince values ​​Indonesia's political stability and good economic growth. Indonesia is considered lucky to have a clear and advanced leader, "said Retno.

In the meeting, the Crown Prince conveyed the decision to add 10,000 pilgrimage quotas to Indonesia.

The sunny weather welcomed the arrival of President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday (14/4) at 08.50 Local Time (WS) or 12:50 WIB.

At the airport the President and Mrs. Iriana were welcomed among others by the Indonesian Ambassador to the Saudi Arabian Kingdom Agus Maftuh and the Governor of Riyadh Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud and the Minister of Trade and Investment Majid Bin Abdullah Al Qasabi.

The plan at noon local time, the President will attend the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud for a lunch together and continued with a meeting at the Palace in Riyadh.

After meeting with King Salman, later in the evening, the President will meet with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.

In the evening, the President and Mrs. Iriana will leave for Jeddah. From Jeddah, the President and Mrs. Iriana will continue the journey to Mecca to perform Umrah services. ( biro pers )