Deputy Minister for Hajj: Safety of Hajj Pilgrims Must Be Top Priority
The Indonesian government has emphasised that the safety of Indonesian hajj pilgrims is the highest priority in all decisions regarding the conduct of the hajj. This has become crucial, particularly amid the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East region.
Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah (Wamenhaj) Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak stated that President Prabowo Subianto has issued a clear directive to all government agencies to ensure the security of citizens who will travel to the Holy Land.
“The President’s order is very clear: to ensure the safety of Indonesian citizens who will depart to perform the hajj. The safety of hajj pilgrims must be the top priority in every policy and step we take,” said Dahnil in Jakarta on Tuesday, 10 March.
According to Dahnil, the government continues to monitor intensively the developments in the Middle East region, which is currently very dynamic. This situation is an important factor that must be carefully considered in the conduct of this year’s hajj. All policies will be based on comprehensive consideration, prioritising pilgrim safety.
“The situation in the Middle East is currently very dynamic and is certainly an important consideration. Therefore, we have been asked to prepare various scenarios carefully and ensure that all risk mitigation measures have been well prepared,” he explained.
As part of this effort, the government is preparing a number of scenarios and risk mitigation measures to anticipate various possibilities that could affect the conduct of the hajj.
He also stressed that all these scenarios will subsequently be discussed comprehensively with the House of Representatives (DPR) as part of the decision-making mechanism.
“We are preparing various scenarios and risk mitigation measures comprehensively. All scenarios must be prepared carefully so that the government is prepared to face various possibilities. The scenarios will be prepared thoroughly and will be discussed with the DPR,” he said.
Regarding the conduct of umrah (lesser pilgrimage), the Ministry of Hajj is aligned with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in urging Indonesian citizens planning to perform umrah in the near future to postpone their departure.
“For umrah pilgrims, following the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we urge people planning to depart for umrah in the near future to postpone their departure until the situation becomes more conducive,” he said.
With this careful and thoughtful approach, the government hopes that the conduct of hajj and umrah can continue safely and orderly, providing the best protection for all Indonesian pilgrims.