JAKARTA - Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas asserted that the news that the government used the cost of organizing the hajj to build the Nusantara Capital (IKN) in East Kalimantan is not true.
Instead, said Yaqut, the government issued an additional budget to cover the needs of the hajj costs of each pilgrim to be deposited with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Yaqut said the government's subsidy was aimed at easing the burden of costs paid by each congregation. This was conveyed by Yaqut after a limited meeting chaired by President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Palace.
"I want to emphasize that it is not true that there is a hoax that says that the government uses hajj funds for this and that purpose, including the need to build IKN, that is completely untrue," Yaqut said in the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube show, Tuesday, May 17.
"What exists is that through BPKH, the government subsidizes Hajj pilgrims so that the large costs that must be incurred by pilgrims to get to the holy land, can be lighter for pilgrims," he continued. Continuing, Head of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH), Anggito Abimanyu explained details of the amount of the cost of organizing the pilgrimage that has been agreed with the DPR RI.
Anggito said the government would transfer the cost of organizing the pilgrimage of IDR 7.5 trillion to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hotel, catering and transportation services through the Ministry of Religion.
"So, we have prepared Rp. 81.7 million per congregation or Rp. 7.5 trillion for the pilgrimage. Pilgrims pay around Rp. 39.9 million per pilgrim," said Anggito.
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