Saudi Gazette

INDONESIAN official Haj delegation arrived in the Kingdom at least 10 days before the start of the annual pilgrimage of Haj. Ever since his landing in the Kingdom, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, who heads the delegation, is busy in making hectic field inspections and interactions with officials to ensure that all the facilities and services are well in place for the pilgrims and they are being provided with a much improved quality of services on all fronts. The delegation is comprised of 15 prominent religious scholars, several government and security officials, including a police chief and an army commander.

Saifuddin, the amirul Haj, and his entourage came quite early, while compared to official delegations of many other countries, to have a meticulous review of the arrangements so as to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims in all sense of the word. He is keen on ascertaining that all preparations are going on smooth and there are no issues for pilgrims in terms of their stay, travel and health conditions. Accompanied by the Indonesian Haj Service Committee (PPIH) members, the delegation spared no effort in ensuring safety and comfort for all Indonesian pilgrims during their stay in Makkah and Madinah so that they perform their rituals in ease and tranquility within an air of spirituality.

Upon arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Sunday, the minister and the delegation members were accorded a warm welcome by Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom Agus Maftuh Abegebriel, Consul General in Jeddah Mohamad Hery Saripudin, Director General for Haj and Umrah Services, Director of Haj Service Affairs at Directorate General of Haj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Sri Ilham Lubis, Haj Consul and Head of PPIH Ahmad Dumyathi Basori, Head of Airport Working Area Arsyad Hidayat, and other officials of the consulate.

At the airport, the minister greeted a group of Indonesian pilgrims who had just landed. Later, he visited the pilgrims on board their buses and reassured their well-being and comfort. He expressed satisfaction over the new fleet of buses hired to transport Indonesian pilgrims during their stay in Makkah and Madinah, saying that they are in excellent condition. “I have checked the buses that we rented, and found that they are in excellent condition. Even the bus that I have just checked is really new; the seat is still covered in plastic. This year we require that all the buses we rented to transport our pilgrims should be no more than three to four years old. The oldest manufacture year should be 2014,” said the minister.

Saifuddin also checked the food being distributed among the pilgrims by the catering firms. “The quality of food is good enough. We have rice with vegetables, chicken, meat stew, fruit and 2 bottles of mineral water. I think the menu is good enough to keep our pilgrims healthy," he said.

As Makkah and Madinah experienced hot weather, all Indonesian pilgrims are advised to take good care of their health, lead a healthy life style, drink a plenty of liquid and maintain high disciplines. “I hope that Indonesian pilgrims maintain their discipline at all times while performing their rituals; consult the heads of their groups and their flight batches, go out of their hotels in groups so as to ease their communications,” he added.