JAKARTA: Indonesia’s parliament on Tuesday approved the establishment of a new ministry dedicated solely to Hajj and Umrah which will oversee pilgrimage services for millions of Indonesians traveling to Saudi Arabia each year.
The world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia sends the largest contingent of Hajj pilgrims every year, while more than a million travel annually for Umrah.
Indonesian lawmakers unanimously passed revisions to the country’s 2019 Hajj and Umrah Law during a plenary session on Tuesday, effectively creating the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
“This ministry will provide a one-stop service (and) coordinate all matters related to organizing Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, whether in terms of infrastructure, human resources or services for the pilgrims,” said lawmaker Marwan Dasopang.
The changes were initially proposed to improve overall services for pilgrims and adjust to policy and technological developments in Saudi Arabia, he added.
