Denies The Issue Of Hajj Funds For Government Projects, The House of Representatives Conveys The Benefits Of Investment

ILLUSTRATION/PIXABAY

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, Ace Hasan Syadzily, denied the issue that the 2021 hajj management funds were used for government projects.

The House of Representatives guarantees that the management of hajj funds for prospective pilgrims who cancel their departure is safe and is not used for infrastructure development.

"It's not true at all that the hajj money is used for things other than the interests of the hajj", said Ace to reporters, Monday, June 7.

Ace ensured that the Hajj funds were fully managed by the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) and supervised by Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives.

"As far as we have observed, no hajj budget is used for infrastructure development," he explained.

The Golkar politician revealed that the hajj funds had been deposited in a bank with a Sukuk (sharia bond) financing mechanism or state sharia securities (SBSN).

"Because actually the Hajj funds, if only stored away, certainly will not provide great benefits for the interests of the Hajj as well", he said.

Then, he continued, some are invested or increased through securities that have a value of benefits derived from the placement in the Sukuk.

"Because the hajj money is placed under the SBSN scheme, whoever uses it becomes the right to use it", he explained.

However, Ace said, there is an obligation to provide a benefit value for the use of the SBSN, with an average value of seven percent.

"Therefore, the hajj funds will increase from the value of the benefits obtained from the utilization mechanism in Islamic banking, domestic and foreign investment, including the matter of the country's sharia securities", he explained.

Ace said the pilgrims get the value of benefits from the placement of the hajj funds. For example, the total financing for hajj per person for 2019 actually reached IDR 70 million, while hajj pilgrims only paid IDR 35 million.

"Where does the remaining IDR 35 million come from? Yes, it is taken from the value of the benefits of the managed hajj funds. So, the hajj funds do exist, and are safe", said Ace.

Therefore, Ace appealed to the public not to trust too much information that has not been proven. If the congregation doubts the information, he said, they should seek clarity or Tabayyun first, including the issue of hajj funds.

"If, for example, the public withdraws hajj funds, it is allowed, but of course there will be consequences, the consequences, for example, are that he cannot get a portion number, or his portion number will be lost", concluded Ace.