Reprimand For Umrah, DPR Asks AMPHURI To Accept Consequences From Ministry Of Religion

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JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR, Ace Hasan Syadzily, suggested that the Muslim Association of Hajj and Umrah Organizers (AMPHURI) accept all the consequences of the Ministry of Religion's decision to issue a warning letter. As a result there is no coordination so that it violates the rules that have been set.

"When the government or the Ministry of Religion gives a warning to the AMPHURI association, of course we can understand this step," said Ace to reporters, Wednesday, January 5. "The Golkar Party politician considered that AMPHURI should have coordinated with the Ministry of Religion from the start if there were plans for departure outside the advance team. As is known, there were 25 advance teams whose departure was approved by the Ministry of Religion, but it turned out that 84 people departed.

"It is better if the AMPHURI association coordinates with the Ministry of Religion to prepare their advance team by complying with what has been agreed between the Ministry of Religion, the Ministry of Health and AMPHURI itself," he said.

The West Java II electoral district legislator reminded that this coordination is important in order to minimize the bad risks that occur in Saudi Arabia. Because, it is the responsibility of the government if there is a problem with the people who are on Umrah.

Ace asked that this reprimand not happen to other associations. "Associations must understand that if something happens, the government itself will be held accountable," he said. Previously, the Ministry of Religion confirmed that it had given a strong warning to the Muslim Association of Hajj and Umrah Organizers of the Republic of Indonesia (AMPHURI) which was deemed to have violated the agreement because it dispatched 84 leaders of Travel Organizers. Umrah Service (PPIU) on 30-31 December. The reason is, on December 23 it was approved that 25 advance teams from AMPHURI left for Saudi Arabia. However, it turned out that at the end of 2021, those who were dispatched exceeded the agreement. Even though there was a delay in departure until January 2. "We, the government and associations have met many times, in December also the meeting agreed on the inaugural Umrah on December 23, 2021. We even prepared the plane for Saudia Airlines, but suddenly on December 16 the president issued a directive to postpone overseas travel first. Finally, the minister also directed that it be postponed. We will use this direction from the president and Gus minister as material for a meeting with the association," said Director of Hajj Umrah, Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organizers at the Ministry of Religion, Nur Arifin when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, January 5.

At the meeting, continued Nur Arifin, associations including AMPHURI also agreed that they could accept the president's direction and the direction of the minister of religion. Finally, the departure of the first Umrah from Indonesia was postponed until January. "The plan is until January 2, but the associations suggested that an advance team or association representative be sent to study the Umrah system in this pandemic era. Finally we conveyed the proposal with Gus Minister, accepted and agreed to 25 people. Finally we sent 25 people to depart on December 23 according to the concept and condition of the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory in Jakarta," he explained. "There was no policy or agreement beyond that, suddenly AMPHURI dispatched the congregation from 30-31 (December), finally the atmosphere was noisy, the other associations were busy 'How should AMPHURI do this? there is no action, there is no violation, there is no action'," continued Nur Arifin. "Finally, we (Kemenag) issued a warning letter to AMPHURI whose direction was let's build a strong Indonesian Umrah team, don't walk alone," he explained.

"We have agreed that we postpone Umrah until January. In essence, we express our disappointment because we have damaged the team solidity agreement that we made," added Nur Arifin.