Hajj Fund Management Agency Urged to Stay Prudent in Managing Hajj Funds
President Jokowi opens the 2023 Working Meeting and the 6th Anniversary of the BPKH at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/12). Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has called on Hajj Fund Management Agency (HFMA) to uphold the principles of professionalism, accountability, prudence, and sharia in managing hajj funds.
“I urge the HFMA to uphold professionalism, accountability, prudence, and sharia principles in managing hajj funds. After all, it is the public funds,” the President said during the opening of the 2023 Working Meeting and the 6th Anniversary of the HFMA at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/12).
The President also ordered the agency to invest the hajj funds in prudent investment instruments.
For the record, 75 percent of the agency’s managed funds are currently invested in secured Government Sharia Securities (GSS).
President Jokowi went on to say that the Government and the House of Representatives (DPR) had set the cost of the hajj pilgrimage at Rp93.4 million (around US$ 5962) with 40 percent of the cost coming from investment yield of the funds.
According to the President, the management of hajj funds should be more innovative and secured by an excellent internal supervision and the funds should not only cover the shortfall in hajj cost for departing pilgrims, but also provide greater benefits for the prospective pilgrims.
“I am of the view that the HFMA can carry out its duties in a trustworthy manner with a full sense of responsibility so the hajj pilgrimage will be better organized in days to come,” the President remarked.
In the meantime, Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that the HFMA should comply with the principles of prudence and security in managing the funds.
“I reiterate my message to the HFMA to always comply with the principles of prudence and security, while at the same time maintain transparency and accountability in managing hajj funds,” the Minister remarked. (FID/SLN/UN) (RI/EP)
