The Ministry Of Religion Proposes The Involvement Of TNI Personnel As Hajj Officers In 2025

LKBN reporter ANTARA Nur Istibsaroh, who became a hajj officer in the 2023 Hajj season, carried an elderly person who became one of the pilgrims from Indonesia. (PHOTO BETWEEN/HO-Doc MCH)

The Indonesian Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) is proposing the involvement of TNI personnel as Hajj officers for the 2025 Hajj season in an effort to improve services to pilgrims from Indonesia in the Holy Land.

"In order to improve Hajj services, Hajj officers must later be combined with TNI personnel," said Deputy Minister of Religion (Wamenag) RI Father HR Muhammad Syafi'i in Padang, Saturday night.

He said this at the launch of the latest application of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) Apps in Padang City, West Sumatra Province (West Sumatra).

Deputy Minister of Religion Muhammad Syafi'i, who is often called Romo, said that the discourse of involving TNI elements as hajj officers was solely to improve Hajj services which had been considered not optimal so far, because many Hajj officers from Indonesia were still found who were undisciplined or optimal in serving Hajj pilgrims.

"Those Hajj officers gathered there smoking, gathered here laughing so that the pilgrims were not served," he said, criticizing the services carried out by previous Hajj officers.

He hopes that the proposal can improve services for pilgrims from Indonesia to make it better, so that there are no complaints submitted by the congregation after fulfilling the fifth Islamic Rukun.

On that occasion, the former member of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the 2014-2019 and 2019-2024 periods, said that later the Ministry of Religion would propose a quota of 50 to 60 percent of TNI personnel to become hajj officers, while the rest could be filled by representatives from community organizations and others.

"Later, the portion of the TNI will be 50 to 60 percent and of course the rank will be under the captain," he said, quoted by Antara.

Nevertheless, Romo emphasized that the involvement of elements of the TNI as hajj officers was only a proposal so that there would be an in-depth review or study from various related parties.