City Commits to Improve Hajj Services

All this time, hajj services for Jakarta hajj pilgrims refer to Law No. 13/2008 on Hajj Prayer Implementation. And to give the best services, since four years ago Jakarta Provincial Government formed Regional Hajj Guidance Team (TPHD) and Regional Hajj Healthcare Team (TKHD) as well as gave assistance to Jakarta hajj pilgrims in form of catering and transportation. However, this year Jakarta hajj pilgrims complained because the last two services are no longer provided.

We cannot give transportation and catering services for Jakarta hajj pilgrims because the budget allocated in the 2014 City Budget (APBD) as much as Rp 22 billion cannot be disbursed

“We cannot give transportation and catering services for Jakarta hajj pilgrims because the budget allocated in the 2014 City Budget (APBD) as much as Rp 22 billion cannot be disbursed,” stated City Secretary Assistant for Public Welfare Division, who is also the Leader of the 2014 Jakarta Embarkation Hajj Group, Bambang Sugiono, Tuesday (10/21).

According to Sugiono, the budget cannot be disbursed based on instruction from Home Affairs Ministry that was worried similar budget would be duplicated in the Religious Ministry. If the Religious Ministry did not give recommendation, Home Affairs Ministry suggested Jakarta Provincial Government to use the budget that has been allocated in the 2014 APBD.

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“Mr. Jokowi as Jakarta Governor at that time also had sent letter to the Religious Ministry to ask recommendation on hajj allocation budget in the 2014 APBD. But, the recommendation is not issued until now, so the budget can no longer be used,” he explained.

As a result, Sugiono revealed, Jakarta hajj pilgrims complained hajj services this year because they could not preoccupy in doing prayers seriously during hajj trip in the Holy Land of Mecca. However, his party has explained about this problem to the pilgrims.

“Thousands of hajj pilgrims were busy looking for food, while in the past years such problem did not experienced by Jakarta hajj pilgrims. But (after being explained), the pilgrims can understand and wish Jakarta Provincial Government to be able to provide transportation and catering services in upcoming years. We hope the Religious Ministry would give recommendation, so this year we could propose the same budget for hajj services next year,” he uttered.

In addition, Sugiono disclosed that about 100 hajj pilgrims were reportedly checked their health to TKHD every day. Such a thing happened because 70 percent of 5,950 pilgrims are elderly with age more than 60 years old.

“It proved that the presence of medical team provided by Jakarta Provincial Government is highly needed considering most hajj pilgrims who are old, are prone to disease,” he said.