Malang, NU Online
Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifudin has expressed optimism that all prospective Hajj pilgrims, who have been registered in the 2015 Hajj quota, will depart for the Holy Lands (Mecca and Madinah) soon.<>

"The Hajj visas process this year is taking longer, compared with the past years, due to the use of the new e-Hajj system that needs adjustment," the minister stated recently after attending a discussion at the Islamic University Malang (UNISMA).

According to him, the use of the e-Hajj system has emerged as one of   constraints in the Hajj visa processing management.

Data relating to the prospective Hajj pilgrims, such as identity of the congregations, including transportation and accommodation affairs during their stay in the Holy Lands has to be inserted in the e-Hajj system, the minister said, adding that this process was time consuming.

However, the Religious Affairs Ministry had done its best to expedite the visa making process for a total of 155,200 passport holders.

"We keep working round the clock and on holidays in a bid to immediately settle the visa problem. God willing, all the prospective Hajj pilgrims this year can depart for the Holy Lands to perform the Hajj worship," Saifudin was quoted by republika.co as saying.

In addition, pilgrims who have arrived in Madinah, had embarked on the journey from different departure points, such as Medan, Batam, Padang, Jakarta, Solo, Surabaya, Ujung Pandang (Makassar), Balikpapan and Lombok.

The pilgrims had departed for Madinah directly from a number of regions in the country.

This year, a total of 168,800 prospective Hajj pilgrims from across the country are expected to depart for the Holy Lands.

Out of the 168,800, a total of 155,200 will leave with regular facilities (BPIH Reguler), while another 13,600 will be offered special facilities (BPIH Khusus).

According to the Religious Affairs Ministry, the first group of Hajj pilgrims will leave for Madinah between August 21 and September 3.

The second period of departure, however, will begin from September 4 and end on September 17, with the Jeddah airport being the landing destination, after which they`ll proceed to Mecca for the Hajj procession.

The pilgrims, who have visited Madinah, will then return to Indonesia through the Jeddah airport after completing the Hajj procession in Mecca.

On the other hand, the Hajj pilgrims, who will leave for Mecca through Jeddah airport, will subsequently return through the Madinah airport. (masdar)