DPR Highlights Prospective Congregants Using Work Visas, Immigration Asked To Be Tighter

Hajj Illustration In Makkah (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission XIII DPR RI, Prince Khairul Saleh asked the immigration authorities to tighten supervision after the prevention of the departure of 10 prospective pilgrims from Banjarmasin by the joint Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police, Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office and the Ministry of Religion. The Prince stated that the use of non-hajj visas for Hajj is a form of immigration violation that must be prevented from the start.

"This is not only an administrative matter, but concerns the dignity of the state. Immigration is the gateway to prevent this case from happening, it should not be passed because this is a matter of state dignity brought," said Prince Khairul Saleh, Friday, April 25.

As is known, the 10 prospective pilgrims want to leave for the Holy Land using a work visa, not an official Hajj visa that is prohibited by the Saudi Arabian authorities. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia itself has confirmed that only official Hajj visas are allowed to carry out the pilgrimage.

In its official statement, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia warned the public not to be deceived by the offer of Hajj using non-hajj visas.

Based on the results of the deepening of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police, which has examined the travel with the initials KGB and the group participants, it was revealed that if the travel parties promised the pilgrims could have Hajj and Umrah by paying Rp. 100 million-Rp. 200 million.

Pangeran emphasized that the use of non-hajj visas for the pilgrimage is a violation of immigration procedures that must be dealt with firmly by the Indonesian government and the Saudi Arabian authorities.

There must be improvements in the supervision system related to these non-procedural Hajj pilgrims. I have long pushed for improvements to the system of supervision and law enforcement in the practice of departing non-procedural pilgrims, including taking action against rogue travel agencies that dispatch pilgrims without official visas," he said.

In addition, the PAN legislator from the South Kalimantan I electoral district also underlined the importance of education to the public so as not to be tempted by cheap hajj offers using work visas or Umrah. Because, he said, illegal hajj departures are at risk of being subject to legal sanctions abroad and harming the congregation itself.

"It is necessary to socialize to prospective pilgrims so that they are not tempted by the cheap departure of Hajj, which remains problematic. Poor prospective pilgrims," said Pangeran.

Members of the Commission in the DPR, which is one of their work fields related to immigration matters, also appealed to the Immigration Office to be more thorough and firm in verifying the documents for the departure of the pilgrimage, especially when entering the Hajj season. According to Prince, prevention at starting points such as airports or during passport verification is crucial.

"I ask Immigration to tighten more inspections and do not hesitate to reject the departure of prospective pilgrims who do not have official Hajj visas. This is not only a procedure, but a matter of protection for people who are pilgrims and also the reputation of the state," said Prince.

"Early detection by Immigration is very important. Do not let the authorities neglect just because they believe in documents from travel agents," he added.

Meanwhile, for those who illegally dispatch pilgrims, Pangeran urged strict law enforcement. He also asked the victims of illegal Hajj pilgrims not to be afraid to report.

"Law enforcement officials need to take action against travel bureaus that are proven to have violated and protected by law for prospective pilgrims who are victims of fraud must be carried out," he said.

"Congregants who feel aggrieved immediately report to the authorities, from the start when registering and paying, of course, they hope to get a Hajj visa. If the visa comes out differently, of course there is an element of fraud, right? So just report it immediately," Prince continued.

Furthermore, Pangeran regretted that there were prospective pilgrims who were still trying to leave on a work visa or Umrah. In fact, he said, Saudi Arabia has already banned Saudi Arabia from having hajj visas that are only valid for Hajj.

Pangeran said that the issue of Hajj using a work visa has become the cross-commission spotlight in the DPR. He emphasized the importance of carrying out the pilgrimage procedurally and in accordance with the provisions of the Indonesian government and Saudi Arabia.

The cross commissions in the DPR in question include Commission XIII of the DPR (immigration), Commission VIII of the DPR (religion), and Commission III of the DPR (law enforcement). Even Commission VIII of the DPR encourages the Ministry of Religion to form a Gakum Student (System of Supervision and Law Enforcement) by involving all relevant agencies such as Immigration, Polri, BIN including the DPR RI Council.

The purpose of the Monitoring and Law Enforcement System is said to supervise and mitigate so that similar incidents do not happen again and immediately get legal action.

Pangeran mengatakan semua pihak yang terlibat dalam perjalanan haji, terutama bureau travel dan pemerintah daerah harus memastikan sosialisasi edukasi dan pendampingan kepada masyarakat terkait prosedur resmi haji dilakukan dengan cermat.

"Security, comfort, and safety of the congregation are the main priorities, so that all forms of violations that have the potential to endanger the congregation must be prevented from the start," Prince concluded.