BPKH Ensures Hajj Congregation Funds Are Safe At Islamic Banks

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JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion has decided not to send pilgrims for the 2021 Hajj pilgrimage. The reason is for the safety of the congregation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) Anggito Abimanyu understands the feelings of the pilgrims who have canceled their pilgrimage to the holy land.

However, Anggito emphasized that the money of the pilgrims whose Hajj departures were delayed was still safely parked in Islamic banks.

"We need to emphasize that all the funds we manage are safe," said Anggito at a press conference, Thursday, June 3.

"We invest these funds and place them in Islamic banks with safe sharia principles," he added.

Anggito said, in 2020 as many as 196,865 regular hajj pilgrims had paid off. All of the funds collected, both initial and paid deposits, were IDR 7.05 trillion.

Then, he continued, for special pilgrimages that have paid off as many as 15,084 pilgrims. Collected initial deposit funds and paid deposits of USD120.67 million dollars.

"That year there were also 569 pilgrims who canceled, so only 0.29 percent. Then the special Hajj pilgrimage was canceled 162, so only 1 percent of the pilgrims canceled," he said.

"Thank you for entrusting us to manage these funds. Of course we will follow all the provisions in the Decree of the Minister of Religion Number 660 of 2021 regarding financial management," said Anggito.