Disclaimer: This article is an editorial that highlights the problems in Indonesia today

PIKIRAN RAKYAT - The implementation of the Hajj pilgrimage in 1445 Hijri/2024 AD has recorded a number of improvements in terms of service quality and innovation. Member of the Indonesian Media Centre of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), Widi Dwinanda, said that the government's efforts to provide the best service in organising this year's Hajj received positive appreciation, both from pilgrims as direct beneficiaries of services and from a number of parties, including the Government of Saudi Arabia.

"The Saudi Ministry of Health gave appreciation to the Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic (KKHI) Mecca," Widi explained in an official statement from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory, Jakarta, on Sunday, June 14, 2024.

According to her, the award was given as a form of thank you to Mecca KHHI, the sector and the Satellite Post for their good cooperation in handling Hajj pilgrims. She said that the appreciation was given directly by the Assistant Director General of Health of the Saudi Ministry of Health, Dr. Hatim Abdul Azizi Khoger, at the Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic, on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

"The Saudi Ministry of Health recognizes the KKHI for providing health services in accordance with the standards set by the Saudi Arabian authorities," she added.

According to Widi, the Saudi Ministry of Health not only provides tasrih or licences for KKHI operations, but also monitors KKHI's operational performance.

Widi explained that this year, Indonesia have received a Hajj quota of 241,000 pilgrims. The number consists of 213,320 regular pilgrims and 27,680 special pilgrims.

"This is the largest Hajj quota in the history of organising the Indonesian Hajj pilgrimage. Hajj 2024 is the highest in quota, the highest in terms of quota absorption. The quota absorption rate reached 99.98 percent," she said.

Based on data from the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Integrated Hajj Information and Computerisation System (Ssikohat), out of 213,320 regular Indonesian Hajj quota, 213,275 pilgrims have departed for the Holy Land.

In the return phase, Widi said, until July 10, 2024, at 21:00 Saudi Arabian Time (SAST), the number of pilgrims and officers who had flown to the country was 137,342 people.

They are divided into 350 flight groups. On Sunday, July 14, 2024, the number of Hajj pilgrims who will and have flown to the country is 7,046 people. They are joined in 18 flight groups with the following details.

1. Banjarmasin Debarkation (BDJ) with 320 pilgrims/1 group.
2. Batam Debarkation (BTH) with 450 pilgrims/1 group.
3. Aceh Debarkation (BTJ) with 393 pilgrims/1 group.
4. Jakarta Pondok Gede (GEJKG) debarkation as many as 1,179 pilgrims/3 group.
5. Jakarta Bekasi (JKS) debarkation as many as 880 pilgrims/2 group.
6. Kertajati Debarkation (KJT) with 450 pilgrims/1 group.
7. Medan Debarkation (KNO) with 360 pilgrims/1 group.
8. Solo (SOC) debarkation as many as 1,080 pilgrims/3 group.
9. Surabaya Debarkation (SUB) as many as 1,484 pilgrims/4 group.
10. Makassar Debarkation (UPG) as many as 450 pilgrims/1 group.***(Politeknik Negeri Bandung/Yeurley Arba Nabila)