Commission VIII DPR Asks Government To Issue Special Guidelines For Independent Umrah

Prospective Umrah pilgrims are waiting for confirmation to leave for the Holy Land of Mecca at Soetta Airport, Tangerang, Thursday 27 February 2020. (Between-M Iqbal)

The government officially allows the public to carry out Umrah independently as stipulated in the Law on the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah (UU PIHU) Number 14 of 2025.

Regarding this right, Member of Commission VIII DPR Ashari, asked the government to immediately issue regulations and guidelines for implementing independent Umrah so that worship is carried out according to the Shari'a and ensure the safety and comfort of the congregation.

"The legal permit for implementing self-isolation Umrah shows that the government provides space for people to worship according to new regulations from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia," Ashari told reporters, Tuesday, October 28.

"However, the government needs to immediately issue guidelines so that the implementation of independent Umrah still meets the legal requirements, and ensures that the congregation worships in a healthy, comfortable, and safe manner," he continued.

Ashari explained that the Umrah implementation system now has to go through the Nusuk application developed by the Government of Saudi Arabia, including for hotel reservations that must be registered in the application. Therefore, according to him, the Ministry of Religion needs to adjust policies and prepare supporting regulations so that the community can easily follow these provisions.

A clear guideline will greatly help pilgrims who want to perform their own Umrah. Do not let the implementation of Umrah be invalid in a sharia manner and harm the congregation only because of technical errors, such as taking waqat, worship procedures, or the provisions of luggage, "he explained.

Ashari also emphasized that even though it was carried out independently, the safety of the congregation remained the responsibility of the government through the Ministry of Religion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Hajj attach in Saudi Arabia as stipulated in Article 86 paragraph 1 of Law Number 8 of 2019.

He also reminded the public to prepare carefully before leaving for the Umrah pilgrimage independently.

"We hope that the public will be wise in learning the implementation of Umrah and all its provisions. Do not let the legitimate aspect of worship be neglected just because they want to carry out it independently," he concluded.