Hajj pilgrims from five districts in South Sulawesi were flown to Mecca

Makassar (ANTARA) - Officers of the Hajj Organising Office (PPIH) Embarkation Makassar (UPG) dispatched the prospective hajj pilgrims (JCH) from five districts in South Sulawesi to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Chairman of PPIH Embarkation Makassar Ikbal Ismail in Makassar, Thursday, said the group 42 pilgrims originated from five areas in South Sulawesi, with one area, Bantaeng Regency, indeed only having dispatched one group this time. “While Bantaeng Regency has indeed only dispatched its pilgrims, other districts have sent many groups in previous flights,” he said. The JCH members dispatched from Bantaeng numbered 328 people, including six haj staff, such as two regional haj assistants (PHD), a nurse, the group leader, a pilgrimage guide, and a haj health worker, each one person. In addition to those departing, there were three vacant seats on this departure, two of which were cancelled and one moved to another group. The pilgrims who did not depart were Jumain Olle Pagising (57) from Bantaeng and Gamo Sada Lai Kadang (85) from Luwu Regency. They did not depart due to illness in the region and did not meet the pilgrimage requirements, while Baharuddin Raba (69) was postponed and moved to the next group. Ikbal, who is also the head of the South Sulawesi regional office of the Hajj Ministry (Kemenhaj) said the total number of pilgrims dispatched in group 42 was 390, according to available seats and prior departures 393. “At the hostel of the hajj dormitory, PPIH has prepared several service stages, ranging from accommodation placement, distribution of identification bracelets, disbursement of living costs, health checks, and data collection especially for women of reproductive age,” he said.