Indonesia, Saudi Arabia discuss enhanced security for Hajj pilgrims
Polri Deputy Chief Commissioner General Dedi Prasetyo was received by PSS Deputy Director for Intelligence Major General Abdul Hamid to explore cooperation areas, according to a statement cited here on Sunday.
The meeting discussed coordination on citizen protection, information exchange, and faster anticipation of issues potentially faced by Indonesian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
Head of the Polri Public Relations Division Inspector General Johnny Eddizon Isir described the talks as a concrete step toward bolstering bilateral synergy in ensuring comprehensive safeguards for Indonesian pilgrims from departure to ritual observance in the Holy Land.
He emphasized that as the country with the largest Hajj pilgrim count, Indonesia requires strong partnership with Saudi Arabia to guarantee maximum safety and security for its citizens during the annual pilgrimage.
Shifting to domestic challenges, Isir underlined ongoing cross-sector measures to shield prospective pilgrims from unauthorized Hajj travel not recognized by the Saudi Arabian government.
“Alongside the Indonesian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Polri will continue strengthening domestic oversight to prevent non-procedural departures and protect people from frauds,” he affirmed.
To date, the Polri Hajj and Umrah Task Force has handled 11 police reports and 21 information reports implicating 13 suspects and involving 320 victims, with losses estimated at Rp10.025 billion (around US$565,000).
Additionally, the task force has foiled the departure of 32 Indonesians suspected of attempting non-procedural Hajj routes, reaffirming police commitment to shielding citizens from fraudulent, illicit practices.
For this year’s Hajj season, Indonesia was granted a quota of 221,000 pilgrims, with East Java contributing the most at 42,409 individuals, followed by Central Java’s 34,122 and West Java’s 29,643.
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Translator: Nadia Putri, Tegar Nurfitra