DPR Asks Minister Of Religion To Handle Backtaker Umrah

Minister Of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas/screenshot

JAKARTA - Commission VIII of the House of Representatives asked the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to take the necessary steps to respond to the rise of independent Umrah or backpackers.

"Commission VIII asked the Minister of Religion to take the necessary steps in the midst of the rise of Umrahbackpackers," said DPR Commission VIII Chairman Ashabul Kahfi during a working meeting with Minister of Religion Yaqut, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 18.

Commission VIII considers this necessary to provide protection, guidance, and services to Umrah pilgrims from the country. Yaqut welcomed the request.

According to him, this includes meaningful input for the Ministry of Religion. The Ministry of Religion assesses that the phenomenon of increasing the implementation of Umrahbackpackers at this time, following the issuance of a new policy from the Government of Saudi Arabia that allows the implementation of Umrah using tourist visas, must be responded to by providing regulations.

Regulations governing these activities are needed so that every Indonesian citizen who undergoes Umrah independently is guaranteed health, safety, and comfort.

"The Ministry of Religion hopes that the regulations that will be prepared will be made appropriate and good. The goal is that every Indonesian citizen who undergoes Umrah independently will have their health, safety and comfort guaranteed," he said.

In drafting regulations regarding the umrahbackpacker, said Yaqut, the Ministry of Religion will coordinate with all implementation of Umrah pilgrimage, special Hajj organizers, as well as the Hajj and Umrah guidance group.

However, the plan to provide the regulation was criticized by Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives Ace Hasan Syadzily.

According to him, Article 86 of Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah states that Umrah must go through Umrah pilgrimage organizers (PPIU).

He assessed that the approval of the Umrahbackpacker has the potential to become a time bomb that allows Umrah pilgrims not to return to the country to wait for the pilgrimage.

"I can't imagine that later on, the regular Hajj rights that have been paid and all kinds of things can be taken. Therefore, in my opinion, there needs to be anticipation. One of them, of course, we must be consistent with the Hajj and Umrah Law where the name Umrah is mandatory with PPIU," he said.

Thus, compared to regulations, Commission VIII asked the Minister of Religion to take the necessary steps to respond to the rise of Umrahbackpackers.