Minister Sees Off First Batch of Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims

Jakarta (Antara) - Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali bade farewell to the firth flight batch of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims at Halim Perdanakusuma military air force base, eastern Jakarta, on Tuesday. The minister urged the hajj pilgrims to remain healthy and abide by the rules during their stay in Saudi Arabia for the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj. He added that the Saudi government had briefed him about the renovation of the Kaaba area in Mecca that has forced the reduction of the Hajj quota by 20 percent in the three consecutive years starting this year. Initially, Indonesia was given a quota of sending 211 thousand would-be Hajj pilgrims annually to Mecca, but due to the three-year renovation works, the number was cut by 20 percent per year. (*)