MEDINA, BERITAPOLITIK.ONLINE — Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Abdul Aziz Ahmad has ensured Indonesia’s readiness to welcome the arrival of the first batch of pilgrims in Medina.
To reporters in Madinah on Friday, he said several technical anticipations had been carefully designed, especially to serve pilgrims who arrived via the fast track.
“Fast track does speed up the immigration process, but there are side effects that we need to overcome. Pilgrims often want to go straight out of the airport, even though some of them, especially the elderly, need to rest or go to the toilet first. This requires a good arrangement so that they are not scattered from the group,” Aziz said.
He also said that officers in the field had anticipated the situation, including the matter of grouping pilgrims according to the services of eight syarikah or hajj service providers.
“We must ensure that no pilgrims from one company are scattered to other companies. This is not only about people, but also about goods. If not handled neatly, pilgrims’ luggage can be mixed up or scattered,” he said.
Another challenge, Aziz continued, is also related to the distribution of Nusuk cards or important identity documents issued by the Saudi Arabian government for pilgrims. The card is handed over by the syarikah directly to the pilgrims at the hotel because passports and other documents are held by the party (wukala).
“The distribution of Nusuk cards must be on time. If it is late, it can disrupt the mobilization of pilgrims. So we encourage officers and syarikah to work quickly and coordinatively,” he said.
Furthermore, Aziz also mentioned, if obstacles are found that require diplomatic intervention, his party is ready to intervene.
“If diplomatic measures are needed, we will help. But if it can be resolved by technical means, we will leave it to the process to run smoothly,” he said.
Then, in the momentum of the pilgrims’ arrival, Aziz ensured that the Indonesian Embassy would also welcome them at the airport.
“When the pilgrims arrive, we welcome them to say that we are there representing the Indonesian Government. Hopefully, that welcome will be a sign that our service is excellent,” he said.
