Indonesia to replace aged pilgrims with young people

Indonesian authorities have decided to replace elderly pilgrims with younger worshippers this year without cutting down on their quota numbers. The decision comes after health warning about the MERS virus and crowding caused by the ongoing expansion to the mataf (circumambulation) area at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, an official of the Saudi Haj services said.
“We have been surprised at the speed with which the Indonesian officials have showed their willingness to respond to the Saudi Health Ministry’s call not to expose aged and sick people to any risky health situation,” Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tawafa Establishment for South East Asia Mustafa Damanhuri, told a local paper.