Minister Of Religion Absent Again, Member Of The Special Committee For Haji Luluk Nur Hamidah: Harassment To The DPR!

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas

JAKARTA - Member of the Special Committee (Pansus) Haji Luluk Nur Hamidah criticized the attitude of the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Quomas who was absent for the second time from the DPR's Hajj Question Committee. He said the attitude of the Minister of Religion as being to the DPR.

"I regret the Minister of Religion who was again absent at the call of the Special Committee. This is a form of harassment against the DPR institution," said Luluk, Saturday, September 21.

Minister of Religion Yaqut was absent from the summons of the DPR's Hajj Special Committee on September 10, 2024, citing attending the MTQ agenda in East Kalimantan. The second summons on September 19, 2024 and Minister of Religion Yaqut again did not attend on the grounds of making a working visit to Europe.

The third call is scheduled by the DPR's Hajj Special Committee to the Minister of Religion on Monday, September 23. However, reportedly Winning Yaqut will continue his working visit to France with the agenda of attending the 38th International Meeting for Peace organized by French President Emmanuel Macron, on September 22, 2024, a day before the Minister of Religion's summons to the DPR.

Luluk also suspected that Minister of Religion Yaqut had deliberately avoided the summons of the DPR Special Committee who wanted to ask for clarification on the chaotic agenda of Hajj in 2024.

"It seems that the Minister of Religion deliberately avoided the call of the Special Committee by visiting abroad," said the woman who will run in the East Java Governor Election (Pilgub Jatim).

Luluk said the Minister of Religion was aware that the Special Committee process was ongoing and had summoned several parties related to the implementation of the Hajj, including officials from the Ministry of Religion (Ministry of Religion). Not only clarification, the Hajj Special Committee summoned Win with the aim of asking for an explanation and accountability for alleged violations of the law committed in the implementation of the Hajj in 2024.

"The Minister of Religion must know that the Special Committee is already working and even summoned related officials at the Ministry of Religion. If they have good faith, the Minister of Religion will definitely not go abroad because they respect the DPR," said Luluk.

The East Java Cagub will also assess that the Minister of Religion's behavior, which has repeatedly been absent from the summons of the DPR Special Committee, shows that there have indeed been violations of the law for the transfer of special hajj quotas as suspected by the DPR so far. Luluk asked the Minister of Religion to show the attitude of knights and gentlemen as a state figure.

"If this means that the Minister of Religion is aware of violating the law on the transfer of the hajj quota to special Hajj," said the legislator from the Central Java IV electoral district.

Furthermore, Luluk supports the attitude of the leadership of the DPR's Hajj Special Committee which states that it will force the Minister of Religion Yaqut to cooperate with the police if the Minister of Religion is absent for the third time. This is possible based on the rules in Law Number 2 of 2018 concerning the MPR, DPR, DPRD and DPD (MD3).

"I hope the leadership of the Special Committee will immediately take the next step. We support it if we make a forced summons," said Luluk.

On the other hand, Luluk said the presence of Minister of Religion Yaqut was urgently needed to provide clarification to the Hajj Special Committee whose legitimacy is regulated in the constitution.

"When public officials are not present at important meetings like this, it can cause distrust among the public. Keep in mind, Hajj is a direct impact on millions of worshipers," he explained.

Luluk also said that there would be consequences if a minister was not present many times in an important meeting held by the DPR. Because the DPR has the authority to impose administrative sanctions on ministers who do not fulfill the summons.

"The absence of ministers can hinder the decision-making process and implementation of policies. This can have a negative impact on government programs that require coordination with legislative institutions," said Luluk.

"If deemed ineffective, the president could consider replacing the minister with someone else who is more responsive and responsible," he continued.