The Palace Confirms The Hajj Bill Contains Plans For The Establishment Of The Ministry Of Hajj

JAKARTA - Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi confirmed the plan to establish the Ministry of Hajj in the discussion of the Draft Law (RUU) on Amendments to Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah (RUU Hajj).

"There is a plan like that (the establishment of the Ministry of Hajj)," said Prasetyo at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Thursday, which was confiscated by Antara.

Prasetyo said the Government had submitted the Inventory List of Problems (DIM) of the Hajj Bill to the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR). He said the opportunity for the formation of the Ministry of Hajj had been included in the DIM.

"God willing, it will be (handed over to the DPR). Please pray for it to be finished quickly," he said.

According to Prasetyo, the plan to form a new ministry is not merely to increase the large cabinet structure, but because of the need that arises from the evaluation of the implementation of the previous pilgrimage.

After one year the agency was formed, he said, there were a number of notes that assessed the need for an increase in institutions at the ministry level.

"After one year ago the agency was formed and after the implementation of the Hajj, there were evaluations, notes that turned out to be a necessity for us to increase institutions from the agency, it seems that it is needed at the ministerial level," said Prasetyo.

According to him, this is important to strengthen coordination with the Government of Saudi Arabia, given the high number of Indonesian pilgrims departing every year.

In addition to Hajj, Umrah travel is also said to be a concern with the number of almost two million Indonesian citizens per year.

"Especially our Umrah, which is calculated every year, almost reaches 2 million of our citizens who travel in Umrah," said Prasetyo.

Previously, Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal discussed the opportunity to raise the status of the Hajj Organizing Body (BP) to become the Ministry of Hajj.

Cucun said that the Hajj Bill that was being discussed by the DPR RI presented two options regarding the status of the Hajj and Umrah service provider.

"In the bill itself, there are still two options. Is it still a body, or is there a desire from some members of the DPR to move up their status to become the Ministry of Hajj. We'll see the progress later," he said at the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Friday (15/8).

It is known, the Draft Law on the management of Hajj and Umrah services is stipulated to be included in the 2025-2029 national legislation program at the 8th DPR RI Plenary Meeting for Session I Session Year 2024-2025 dated 19 November 2024.

The bill was enacted as a bill for the initiative of the DPR RI on July 24, 2025, in the 25th DPR RI Plenary Meeting of Session Period IV for Session Year 2024-2025.

The DPR RI targets the discussion of the draft law to be finalized during the First Session of the 2025-2026 Session Year, which will last until October 2, 2025.