PCO: Formation Of The Ministry Of Hajj Waits For Prabowo's Presidential Regulation

Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Hasan Nasbi (left) and Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Angga Raka /ANTARA / Andi Firdaus

JAKARTA - Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Hasan Nasbi said the formation of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah would be carried out through a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) as a follow-up to the mandate of the Law (UU).

Hasan said the agency was different from the ministry whose existence was directly ordered by the 1945 Constitution, there were also ministries formed based on the mandate of the law.

"So, this is a law, the order is to make a ministry, meaning that later, the President, in this case, will make a presidential regulation to implement the law. Presidential Decree to form a ministry of Hajj," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 26.

Regarding who will lead the ministry, Hasan emphasized that it was entirely under President Prabowo Subianto's authority.

"Does the current head automatically become that, let the President decide," he said.

Hasan also mentioned the issue of funding, where the formation of a new ministry will require its own budget allocation.

"If you create a new institution, you have to be prepared later. Just like making PCO, right? It must be prepared too," he said.

Previously, the DPR approved the Bill on the Third Amendment to Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah into Law, which contains the establishment of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Tuesday (26/8).

Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, Marwan Dasopang, explained that the new ministry will be the main coordinator of organizing Hajj, with all infrastructure and human resources under his auspices.

The bill is a proposal of the DPR's initiative to improve congregational services, adjust technological developments, and respond to Saudi Arabia's latest policies.

All factions of political parties expressed their approval, so that this ministry will become the official partner of Commission VIII of the DPR.