1,770 Pilgrims from Palembang Debarkation Return to Indonesia
Palembang - As of 6 June 2026, a total of 1,770 pilgrims from the Palembang debarkation have returned to the homeland, as the repatriation phase for pilgrims from South Sumatra continues. The Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for South Sumatra, M. Arkan Nurwahiddin, stated in Palembang on Monday that the repatriation process through the Palembang debarkation has generally proceeded smoothly. A total of 1,770 pilgrims from the Palembang debarkation have landed safely in the country.
“We are grateful that this repatriation phase has generally gone smoothly,” he said. While the 4th group initially consisted of 439 people when departing for Saudi Arabia, the number of pilgrims arriving back in the country reached 441. This change in numbers was due to the passing of a pilgrim from the 4th group, Tarmidi Pitono Basuki (73), in Makkah on 23 May 2026, due to health factors and advanced age. Conversely, there was an addition of three elderly pilgrims from other groups who were repatriated earlier using vacant aircraft seats based on medical recommendations.
“Amidst our gratitude, there is news that brings sadness to our hearts. One of the pilgrims from the 4th group, the late Mr Tarmidi Pitono Basuki, aged 73, has preceded us to meet Allah in the Holy Land,” he said. He ensured that all the rights of the deceased pilgrim have been fulfilled in accordance with regulations and expressed condolences to the bereaved family. “We are all certainly in mourning, but at the same time, we believe that passing away in the Holy Land while performing the Hajj pilgrimage is an honour that is the hope of every Muslim. On behalf of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of South Sumatra Province, we express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.”
The three elderly pilgrims repatriated earlier through the ‘tanazul’ scheme were Ruswani (70) and Sainol (81) from the 11th group, and Sukardi Husin (70) from the 13th group. The repatriation operations were met by the Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) at the Palembang Hajj Dormitory, which continues to provide arrival services and assistance to the pilgrims. Furthermore, the PPIH advised newly arrived pilgrims to maintain their health by getting sufficient rest after completing the Hajj rituals and facing the temperature differences between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Arkan reminded pilgrims that the values gained during the Hajj pilgrimage should be applied in daily life. “Returning from the Holy Land is not the end of the pilgrimage, but the beginning of bringing Hajj values into daily life. The success of the Hajj (mabrur) should be reflected in increasingly better character,” he said.