DPR: Cancellation Of Hajj Due To Indonesian Debt To Saudi Arabia, That's A Hoax!

Yandri Susanto (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Commission VIII of the House of Representatives supports the Ministry of Religion which has officially canceled the implementation of Hajj 1441 H/2021 AD on the grounds of prioritizing the safety of Indonesian pilgrims amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives Yandri Susanto appreciated the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and the ranks who have prepared and made efforts to organize Hajj this year.

"We as partners of the ministry of religion know exactly and are directly involved in preparing everything domestically to prepare for the departure of prospective hajj pilgrims," Yandri said at a press conference at the Ministry of Religion Office, Jakarta, Thursday, June 3.

"It is with a heavy heart that we agree with the many considerations conveyed by the minister of religion that this year's Hajj our country has not been able to send prospective pilgrims," he continued.

The PAN politician said that from this cancellation the most important thing was the safety of prospective pilgrims. Where the pandemic is still very high.

"And what is a special consideration is that until this moment the Saudi Arabian government has not allowed flights from Indonesia to Jeddah or Medina, including the hajj quota, which has not been given to Indonesia," said Yandri.

Yandri appealed to all Indonesians not to believe in fake news or hoaxes that said the cancellation of the Hajj was due to the Indonesian government's debt to the Saudi Arabian government.

"If there is a hoax, there is news that is not true, for example there is news that says that there will be no Hajj this year because Indonesia owes Saudi Arabia, that is fake news, not true at all," he said

"It is not true that someone said the decision to cancel the hajj was because Indonesia owed Saudi Arabia such as accommodation, catering and others," he added.

Yandri emphasized that the parked hajj funds due to the cancellation of this year's hajj implementation were still safe and well managed by the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH).

"Hajj funds are very safe, secure, safe and secure. Therefore, we ask prospective pilgrims not to worry, to be upset because of this cancellation. The point is that the money that you deposited is safe and if there is news that says there is a debt, it is not true. at all," said Yandri.