Cak Imin Says Indonesia Anticipates Hajj Privatization, The Impact Is Burdening The Financial Cycle

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Muhaimin Iskandar alias Cak Imin in Makkah, Tuesday, July 5. (AMONG)

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Muhaimin Iskandar alias Cak Imin, said it was necessary to anticipate the privatization of the hajj, which Saudi Arabia began to tend to do.

According to him, Saudi Arabia has started to do it, seen from the sudden system that has burdened the financial cycle of hajj funds. This was conveyed during the coordination meeting for the Implementation of Hajj 1443 H/2022 AD with Amirul Hajj and the DPR in Makkah, Tuesday, July 5.

"The sudden system, including the increase in Masyair's fees of up to Rp. 1.5 trillion, must be repaired because it will burden our financial cycle in the upcoming hajj," he said.

Cak Imin added, it must also be strengthened in terms of the ability to adapt to developments in Saudi Arabia. Currently the Saudis hand over the organization of the pilgrimage, especially during the peak of the pilgrimage, to Syarikah, a private body previously regulated by Muasasah.

Cak Imin emphasized that the government, both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Religion, which assists diplomacy according to their field of work, need to protest about the sudden system of Saudi Arabia. Whether it's related to setting additional quotas or increasing Masyair's costs to IDR 1.5 trillion at the peak of the pilgrimage.

"Because the sudden thing tends to be privatized, this is what we don't want to make the congregation's bargaining weak," said the PKB politician, as reported by Antara.

"This is a momentum for all of us that the system we have chosen in organizing the Hajj in which the government is directly involved continues to be tested by history, some are tested with the issue of privatization, and we are grateful that so far it has gone well and our congregations have received good subsidies," he said.

If this continues, according to him, the cycle of hajj financial funds will be chaotic and in the future it will not be able to provide subsidies of up to 50 percent as it is now.

"Now it's extraordinary, we can lower the cost of hajj up to 51 percent. The generosity is extraordinary with the budgeting cycle system from the hajj fund itself. In the future, if there is a sudden additional payment, this fee is very dangerous, so it goes up, burdened by our congregation," said Cak Imin. .

He also expressed his appreciation to all hajj officers who have provided the best service to Indonesian pilgrims. Until now, according to him, the implementation of the pilgrimage is in accordance with the plan.