Prabowo Separates The Hajj And Umrah Agency From The Ministry Of Religion

Head of the Hajj and Umrah Board Mochamad Irfan Yusuf when delivering the statement. (ANTARA/Livia Kristianti)

JAKARTA - Presiden Prabowo Subianto membentuk Badan Haji dan Umrah sebagai lembaga mandiri yang terpisah dari Kementerian Agama (Kemenag) agar pemerintah dapat lebih fokus meningkatkan penyelenggaraan ibadah ke Tanah Suci yang aman dan nyaman.

The statement was made by the Head of the Hajj and Umrah Board, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, Tuesday, October 22.

"Hopefully, Mr. President, next year we can truly be independent, independent Hajj organizers. There are many hopes conveyed by the President for the implementation of the pilgrimage," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

There are two missions that Irfan is now carrying with his staff to fulfill Prabowo's hopes for improving Hajj and Umrah services, namely ensuring that all pilgrims depart safely and provide comfort during the implementation of worship in the Holy Land.

To realize the comfortable pilgrimage and Umrah, said Irfan, Prabowo assigned the Hajj and Umrah Agency to realize the Hajj village for Indonesian pilgrims in the Holy Land.

"Mr. President hopes that Indonesia will have its own Hajj village, Indonesian village in the Holy Land, so that all activities of pilgrims and Indonesian Umrah pilgrims can be localized in one place there," he said.

Regarding the task of realizing safe travel, Irfan said he would summarize it from the results of the evaluation of activities in the Hajj and Umrah season in previous years.

"Of course, every time the pilgrimage is finished, there must be an evaluation from friends of the Ministry of Religion. According to the President, it must be further improved so that it can be more comfortable for Hajj pilgrims and also safe," he said.

Although for this year collaboration with the Hajj and Umrah Directorates of the Ministry of Religion will continue, Irfan targets the agency to operate independently starting next year.

Answering questions about organizing the Hajj independently, Irfan said that the target to be fully independent is still set in 2026.

"In 2025 we will still collaborate with the Hajj Directorate," said IrfanYusuf.