Minister of Hajj Meets North Maluku Governor to Improve Eastern Pilgrim Services

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta: Indonesia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah held a strategic meeting to improve Hajj and Umrah services in Jakarta, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The discussion focused on enhancing service quality, strengthening coordination, and expanding accessibility for pilgrims. It aims to better support pilgrims from North Maluku Province in eastern Indonesia.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, received North Maluku Governor Sherly Tjoanda Laos at the ministry office in Jakarta. The meeting emphasized strengthening coordination between the central government and regional authorities. Both sides focused on improving services for pilgrims coming from eastern Indonesia.

The minister highlighted the importance of strong synergy between national and regional governments in managing pilgrimage services. This coordination ensures pilgrims receive their rights during worship in Saudi Arabia. It also supports more effective and well-organized service delivery throughout the pilgrimage process.

Before delivering his main statement, the minister emphasized improving the overall service ecosystem for Hajj and Umrah. He underlined the need to provide better attention to pilgrims from eastern Indonesia. He then conveyed the government’s commitment to continuous improvement.

“We are committed to continuously improving the Hajj and Umrah service ecosystem, especially for pilgrims in eastern Indonesia,” Irfan said.

The meeting also discussed optimizing Hajj quota allocation for North Maluku Province. This aims to provide clearer certainty for pilgrims who remain on the waiting list. Distribution across districts and cities must be carried out transparently and accountably.

Infrastructure and transportation access were also discussed as important supporting factors for pilgrimage services. Improvements are needed to ensure smoother and more comfortable mobility for pilgrims. This applies both during departure from regions and while in Saudi Arabia.

Health screening standardization was coordinated to align with the latest regulations set by the Saudi Arabian government. The minister highlighted the high percentage of elderly pilgrims from North Maluku. Officers must understand local culture and language to ensure better comfort and assistance.

“To address the high percentage of elderly pilgrims, there must be understanding among accompanying officers of local culture and language of North Maluku to provide a sense of safety and comfort for pilgrims,” he added.