Ministry Of Religion Asks Staff To Supervise 4 Umrah Organizers Whose Permits Are Frozen

JAKARTA - Director of Umrah and Special Hajj for the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) Nur Arifin asked the Regional Office (Kanwil) of the Provincial Ministry of Religion to oversee four Umrah Travel Organizers (PPIU) whose operational permits are temporarily frozen.

"Make sure the PPIU is in a period of suspension and temporary suspension of activities that do not accept registration and dispatch Umrah pilgrims, as well as prohibitions or other sanctions that have been set," said Nur Arifin as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, August 10.

Previously, the Ministry of Religion frozen PPIU which failed to dispatch Umrah pilgrims, namely PT Amana Berkah Mandiri, PT Arofa Mina, PT Mubina Fifa Mandiri, and PT Arafah Medina Jaya.

PT Arafah Mina, PT Mubina Fifa Mandiri, and Amana Berkah Mandiri, have been frozen with operational permits for one year. Meanwhile, PT Arafah Medina Jaya for six months.

During the administrative sanctions, the four PPIUs were not allowed to accept registration and were not allowed to dispatch Umrah pilgrims.

In addition, PPIU must reschedule the departure of Umrah pilgrims and return the costs for those who cancel their departures.

Nur reminded that PPIU must be more professional in carrying out their business, complying with regulations, and prioritizing services to Umrah pilgrims.

"PPIU must carry out its business as well as possible by complying with the regulations for organizing Umrah pilgrimages regulated in Law Number 8 of 2019 and its derivative regulations," he said.

He also reminded again the Lima Pasti Umrah Program. According to him, the program is very important for prospective Umrah participants to avoid fraud.

"In addition to ensuring PPIU permits, people who will worship Umrah also need to ensure visas, hotels, costs/packages, as well as schedules/tickets. Also make sure there is a letter of agreement between PPIU and Umrah pilgrims," he said.