Batch 9 Hajj Pilgrims from NTB Depart for the Holy Land

East Lombok (ANTARA) - A total of 393 prospective Hajj pilgrims from East Lombok Regency, who are part of Flight Batch (Kloter) 9 from the Lombok Embarkation in West Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), departed via Lombok International Airport bound for the Holy Land of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

“Not everyone can go on Hajj even if they are able, even if they have the money. But these ladies and gentlemen are very special guests of Allah SWT,” said East Lombok Regent Haerul Warisin during the send-off ceremony for the prospective Hajj pilgrims (JCH) at the Grand Mosque in East Lombok on Sunday.

He stated that out of 1.5 million residents of East Lombok, 1,406 prospective Hajj pilgrims will perform the Hajj this year in 1447 Hijriah, including the 393 in Batch 9 from the Lombok Embarkation.

“Not everyone can go on Hajj even if they are able,” he said.

The Regent acknowledged that the East Lombok Regency Government has not yet been able to provide more services to the prospective Hajj pilgrims. This year, the local government can only provide uniforms, which are hoped to serve as identification so that East Lombok Hajj pilgrims can recognise each other when in the Holy Land of Mecca.

“So these clothes are intended for us to identify each other, between one pilgrim and another. There is the East Lombok emblem on it,” he said.

In the future, he promised that the local government will provide better services, including paying BPJS contributions for JCH three months before departure until three months after departure.

“JCH must not be without BPJS, whether BPJS Health or BPJS Employment. Therefore, in the future, the government will pay for BPJS Employment three months before departure,” he explained.

Thus, if something unexpected happens, the heirs will not be left helpless, but he still hopes that the prospective Hajj pilgrims can perform Hajj in accordance with Islamic Sharia.

To the pilgrims, the Regent advised them to focus on carrying out worship with sincerity. In addition, the pilgrims were reminded to maintain their behaviour, actions, and words, quoting a hadith.

“If we perform Hajj worship without speaking dirty words and committing sin, then ladies and gentlemen will surely be like a newborn child coming out of its mother’s womb,” he said.

The Regent also reminded them to always maintain physical and mental health, follow instructions from Hajj officials, and asked the pilgrims to pray that East Lombok Regency becomes a safe, advanced, and prosperous regency, kept away from dangers and disasters.

Batch 9 JCH departed on 3 May, with a planned return on 12 June 2026.