Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas is seen giving a presentation during a working meeting with Commission VIII of the Indonesian Parliament at the Parliament Complex Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, January 18, 2021. This is the first joint working meeting of the DPR for Yaqut Cholil since being appointed as minister of religion. TEMPO / M Taufan Rengganis
Jakarta – Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on Monday said that the government is preparing a number of scenarios regarding the national hajj pilgrimage program for 2021, which he said in the House of Representatives (DPR) hearing with religious commission, will be based on an assumed number of quota and the application of health protocols in the international perspective.
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He revealed the challenging situation that coincides with health protocols in the global landscape and assumes that the Saudi Arabia would issue their own policies that would affect hajj pilgrims.
Even though there has yet been any certainty from the Saudi government, the Indonesian government will prepare any future possibilities by preparing pilgrims with new health protocol implementations, mobility at the location, and how long they would be able to stay in Saudi Arabia.
Minister Yaqut also said that hajj amidst the pandemic will also affect the costs that will be spent to fly the pilgrims and reported to the DPR that the religious affairs ministry has adjusted the cost plan on hajj (BPIH).
“The smaller the quota of pilgrims then the larger cost will be handed to each individual,” he said in the DPR hearing.
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