Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs H.R. Muhammad Syafii on Friday highlighted President Prabowo Subianto's directive to make the Hajj pilgrimage more efficient and affordable.
According to Syafii, the president recognized the potential for budget rationalization to enhance financial efficiency while also improving the quality of services provided.
"The president wants our Hajj implementation to be better in quality. He also asks for budget rationalization," Syafii remarked in Jakarta.
He stated that a reduction in Hajj costs is almost certain to occur. However, the specific amount of the decrease has not yet been disclosed and is pending a decision from the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) working committee.
"The working committee will be formed on December 30, followed by a working meeting to decide the Hajj cost reduction. Regarding the amount of the reduction, we cannot announce it now," he noted.
Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar remarked that efforts to reduce Hajj costs also take into account external factors, such as inflation and currency exchange rates.
He also stated that efforts to eliminate various irregularities in previous Hajj management are expected to further lower costs.
"We want the Hajj implementation to be cheaper and accessible to the public through efficiency. By addressing all irregularities, it will also contribute to lowering prices," Umar noted.
Regarding improvements in the quality of Hajj services, he affirmed that one of the efforts being made is to ensure the professional work of the Hajj officers on duty.
He emphasized that negative incidents involving Hajj officers during previous Hajj operations should not recur.
"We do not want similar cases to happen again, like pilgrims assisting Hajj guides. It should be the opposite. All Hajj guides should be dedicated to protecting the pilgrims from any problems," Umar said.
