House Of Representatives Commission VIII: AMPHURI Should Not Break The Agreement With The Ministry Of Religion

ILLUSTRATION BETWEEN

JAKARTA - Commission VIII of the House of Representatives regrets the reprimand from the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag RI) against the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Organizing Muslim Association (AMPHURI) regarding the violation of the Umrah agreement. AMPHURI was reprimanded for being desperate to dispatch 84 advance teams. However, this was not in accordance with the provisions because it was originally approved by 25 people.

"It's true that they should be reprimanded, because previously they knew when the Umrah Travel Organizing Association (PPIU) held a meeting with the Ministry of Religion following up on the President's direction regarding the postponement of Umrah departures," said member of Commission VIII DPR MF Nurhuda to VOI, Wednesday, January 5.

The Ministry of Religion previously issued a warning letter to AMPHURI for violating the agreement to send an advance team of 25 people to carry out Umrah while studying the implementation of Umrah during the pandemic. However, the team that departed on December 30, 2021 increased to 84 people.

AMPHURI is considered not to have coordinated with the Ministry of Religion regarding the changes to the agreement.

"AMPHURI should not violate the agreement with the Ministry of Religion, which is to make an advance team of 84 people for a trial for Umrah departures after a 2-year vacuum due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If it violates the applicable provisions, it should be reprimanded," he continued.

It is known that AMPHURI also violated the determination of the departure date because the agreement for departure was on December 23, 2021.

"AMPHURI should not have made a unilateral decision, because their results were on December 23, instead the advance team departed on December 30," explained Nurhuda.

However, the member of the DPR's National Awakening Party (FPKB) faction understands the public's disappointment with the postponement of the large number of Umrah departures on December 23. However, said Nurhuda, the community should still obey the government's decision.

"We understand why people are disappointed, because many people want to leave. But the government and the public have been working hard to get Indonesia out of the COVID-19 pandemic," he explained.

"The delay in the departure of Umrah pilgrims is part of the steps to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, the impact of the emergence of the Omicron variant. The main goal is for public safety and health. Yes, it must be obeyed," he continued.

Nurhuda hopes that this incident will not happen again. With this incident, he said, it was clearly a bad reflection for the wider community.

"I hope this incident does not happen again, we must continue to comply with health protocols so that the COVID-19 pandemic ends soon. Don't let this incident be a bad reflection for the general public," said Nurhuda.