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TIM MEDIA CENTER HAJI 2023

Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (second from the left) visited the wukuf facility in Arafah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday evening (20/6/2023) Saudi Arabian time.

MEKKAH, KOMPAS- Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas visited Arafah to ensure the readiness of the Wukuf pilgrimage site, the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage, on Tuesday (20/6/2023) night or Wednesday (21/6 /2023) WIB. One of the concerns of the Minister was the availability of toilets for Indonesian pilgrims.

"I also see that the toilet facilities (at Arafah) are crucial. The promise made last year of adding toilets has been fulfilled, and we hope that more toilets will be added this time. There are still many empty areas that can be used to add more toilets," said Yaqut, accompanied by the Director General of Hajj and Umrah, Hilman Latief, the Inspector General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Faesal AH, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mashariq Dzahabiyah, M Amin Indragiri.

Mashariq is a company that provides wukuf facilities services in Arafah. "What is still unfinished will be completed in two days. Mashariq promises that all of this can be finished on time so that it can serve the pilgrims well," he said.

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KOMPAS/ADI PRINANTYO

The Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, has reviewed the facilities for hajj pilgrims at Arafah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday (20/6/2023) afternoon Saudi Arabian time. Yaqut was accompanied by the Inspector General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Faesal AH (third from the left), the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mashariq Dzahabiyah, M Amin Indragiri (second from the right), and the Director General for Hajj and Umrah Services, Hilman Latief (right).

Also read: Ahead of the Peak of Hajj Pilgrimage, Indonesian Congregational Facilities are Prepared

The Minister of Religious Affairs added that his attention towards toilet facilities is solely due to the fact that there are a considerable number of Indonesian pilgrims, which amounts to 220,000 people. "Our pilgrims are mainly women, and women require more time in the toilet than men. I see that the toilets are also wider and cleaner than before," said Yaqut.

The kitchen facilities, according to him, are clean and good. The same goes for the air conditioning facilities, which are now cooler. "The kitchen is more decent than when I was part of the regular hajj pilgrims in 2004. God willing, it will be ready on H-2, and it will be checked again later. Hopefully what Mashariq has conveyed will truly be realized," he said.

KOMPAS/ADI PRINANTYO

Some of the maktab facilities at Arafah, which at the peak of the pilgrimage are part of standing, are like the conditions on Tuesday (20/6/2023) evening Saudi Arabia time.

Director General of Hajj and Umrah Administration at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hilman Latief, affirmed that the government guarantees the provision of consumption services for Indonesian pilgrims during the peak of Hajj in Arafah-Muzdalifah-Mina. The consumption model that will be presented is in the form of ready-to-eat meals.

When asked about the possible distribution of food and beverages that may be hindered by traffic jams, Hilman explained that the consumption provider kitchens are located around Arafah-Muzdalifah-Mina. "When pilgrims stay in tents in Arafah, the goods have already been prepared there by our partner company through the kitchens nearby. So it makes distribution easier," said Hilman.

The ready-to-eat food menu during Arafah-Muzdalifah-Mina consists of Indonesian dishes that have been adjusted to the taste of Indonesian hajj pilgrims. "I have sampled the food myself. The menu includes rendang, catfish, and other dishes. The food is packaged separately from the rice," Hilman explained.