JAKARTA - Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf emphasized that the controversy over the payment of dam (fine) for Hajj, which had been a concern for a number of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims, was not a case of fraud, but a problem of implementation procedures that had not been carried out according to the official mechanism set by the Saudi Government.
According to Irfan, the implementation of dams in this year's hajj season has been centralized through the official Saudi Arabian institution, Adahi, to ensure transparency, accountability, and certainty of the implementation of worship for pilgrims.
"It needs to be straightened out, there is no fraud. What exists is the procedure that is not neat. Dam currently has to go through Adahi. So it's not a fraud, but a process that hasn't been in accordance with the procedures that have been established," said Irfan in his statement, Wednesday, June 10.
He explained that all the problems that arose related to the implementation of the dam had been resolved. The funds that had been a concern had also been returned to the authorized institution to be managed in accordance with the applicable provisions.
According to Irfan, some of the pilgrims still want the dam slaughter process to be witnessed directly as in the practice of previous years. However, starting this year's Hajj season, the Saudi Arabian government has stipulated that all dam implementation is carried out through Adahi as the designated official institution.
"Indeed, there are some people who want to see or follow the process of slaughtering the dam directly. However, now there is a more correct, valid, and more reliable procedure through the Adahi institution," he said.
He also ensured that all pilgrims who had carried out the dam still met the provisions of syariat and did not need to worry about the validity of their haj.
"All pilgrims who have been dammed, both in the holy land and through the established mechanism, are valid. Because they have carried out the obligation of dam and handed it over to the authorized and trusted parties," said Irfan.
According to him, the policy of focusing on the implementation of dams through Adahi is applied to avoid doubts and misunderstandings among the congregation and to ensure that the process runs more orderly.
"We want everything to be more organized so that there are no more unwanted things. Therefore, the implementation of dams in the Holy Land is centralized through Adahi and God willing, it is safe and legitimate," he added.
In addition to providing an explanation about the dam, Irfan also responded to the incident of the Indonesian Hajj flight which had to transit in Oman.
He explained that the landing was carried out because there was a pilgrim who had health problems and needed medical treatment. After the passenger was handled, the plane resumed flight.
However, on the way, technical problems were found on the plane so it had to land in Oman for repairs.
"At first there were sick pilgrims so the plane had to land at the nearest airport. After that the plane flew again, but because of technical problems the plane had to return to Oman for repairs. Thank God, this morning the plane has been sent back," he said.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah ensures that all issues related to the implementation of dams and flight operations for pilgrims have been handled and are under control.
"Insyaallah everything is finished and under control. The congregation does not need to worry because the entire process is carried out according to the applicable provisions," said Irfan.
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