Calling Hajj Funds Used To Build Infrastructure, Eko Kuntadhi Sprays Ustaz Abdul Somad And HNW: Provocateurs!

Social media activist, Eko Kuntadhi (Screenshot of CokroTV)

JAKARTA - Social Media Activist Eko Kuntadhi strongly criticized the statement issued by Ustaz Abdul Somad to the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician, Hidayat Nur Wahid. Instead of educating the people about the cancellation of Indonesian pilgrims from leaving for Hajj, these two figures have succeeded in becoming provocateurs.

"In this context, in my eyes, regarding the management of hajj funds, Hidayat Nur Wahid and Abdul Somad are only frying the problem. The goal is not to educate people about valid and correct hajj fund management. That's the function of provocateurs," said Eko on the channel. Youtube CokroTV quoted by VOI, Wednesday, June 9.

Ustaz Abdul Somad previously accused the government of using the funds deposited by the pilgrims for the pilgrimage. This was conveyed by UAS - Abdul Somad's nickname - in a lecture that was shared via the Twitter account, @narkosun, Monday, June 7 yesterday.

"Money is not used for Hajj funds, Muslims are noisy, Muslims are raging, we pay for Hajj to go for Hajj, not our money to be used to build roads, invest! Go berserk! Stop, that's the test. If Muslims go on a rampage stop, if Muslims keep quiet," said UAS.

In line with Ustas Abdul Somad, Deputy Chair of the MPR from the PKS faction, Hidayat Nur Wahid (HNW) also asked the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) to explain transparently the condition of the Hajj funds.

This is because, due to the cancellation of the Hajj from Indonesia, there have been accusations that the government uses the hajj funds to build infrastructure.

According to Eko, as a member of the DPR-MPR, Hidayat Nur Wahid should have made it much easier to carry out his supervisory function. The BPKH can be summoned and asked for responsibilities before the members of the council.

"Confirmation if there is a suspicion, you can call BPKH at any time to confirm if there is a problem. For a member of the DPR, this is normal, because the function of the DPR is as a supervisor of the running of the government," explained Eko.

Eko explained that the formation of the BPKH in 2017 was to overcome the existing hajj funding dispute. Prior to 2017, Hajj funds were managed using a patchwork system. The explanation, for one pilgrimage with a regular class required funds of around Rp. 60-72 million.

Meanwhile, hajj pilgrims deposit around Rp. 30 million. So, how to cover this shortcoming? Well, the government or related parties will take Hajj funds from pilgrims who have not yet departed to cover the shortage. The presence of BKH is actually a positive step to overcome this problem.

With a strict scheme as well as regulation in the Act, the Hajj funds are then managed under a sharia system. Part of the Hajj funds will be placed in deposits and partly in Islamic securities and guaranteed by the state.

"So there can't be any losses, there are even benefits or excess money from their own investment," said Eko.