Kemenhaj Riau Islands: Six Prospective Hajj Pilgrims from Batam and Karimun Postpone Departure

Batam (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of the Riau Islands Province has recorded six prospective Hajj pilgrims from the Riau Islands, specifically from Batam and Karimun, who are part of Cluster 2 and have postponed their departure for the 2026/1447 Hijri Hajj season.

The Head of the Riau Islands Ministry of Hajj Office and Chairman of the Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) for Batam Embarkation, Muhammad Syafii, in Batam on Friday, stated that Cluster 1 had no pilgrims postponing their departure, while Cluster 2 had six individuals doing so.

Of these six prospective pilgrims, two cancelled their departure due to illness and death, one each from Batam City and Karimun Regency.

“Both have been replaced, and the replacements are scheduled to depart in Cluster 25 on 21 May,” he said.

Additionally, one prospective pilgrim from Batam postponed departure at the embarkation due to illness and had to be referred to hospital, while another from Batam was also postponed for not meeting the istitha’ah or health requirements.

He mentioned that for pilgrims postponing due to health reasons, they still have the opportunity to be dispatched in subsequent clusters if their condition improves.

“If they recover, they can be dispatched in the next cluster. And it does not have to be Cluster 25; they can also join clusters from other regions,” he stated.

The Batam Embarkation has 25 clusters, where pilgrims from the Riau Islands are grouped in Clusters 1, 2, and 25.

Meanwhile, for Cluster 2 that has already been dispatched, the number of prospective Hajj pilgrims from the Riau Islands reaches 439 people, consisting of 231 from Batam, 120 from Karimun, 46 from Anambas, 36 from Natuna, and also six officials.

Thus, the total number of prospective Hajj pilgrims from the Riau Islands who have been dispatched so far reaches 884 people, comprising 445 in Cluster 1 and 439 in Cluster 2.