Up till now BPJH has not made direct investments in infrastructure projects
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Hajj Fund Management Board (BPKH) Anggito Abimanyu has denied allegations that the board has used hajj funds to finance the development of infrastructure in the country.

"BPJH has not made direct investments in infrastructure projects," he said during a media briefing in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He did say that BPKH places funds in hajj-related investments, including state and corporate securities.

"The investment orientation is directly related to hajj. ... We are exploring the possibility of hajj-related investments in Saudi Arabia," he said.

He went on to say that hajj pilgrimage funds have been transferred to the Religious Affairs Ministry. The funds included operational funding for an additional quota of 10 thousand Indonesian hajj pilgrims.

Early this year, the Saudi King confirmed an additional quota of 10 thousand hajj pilgrims for Indonesia. Meanwhile, the Indonesian government has set hajj pilgrimage costs for 2019.

"This includes expenses for an additional 10 thousand hajj pilgrims. We also take part in financing through efficiencies we have made," he said.

He noted that the additional quota of 10 thousand hajj pilgrims prompted the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to make adjustments.

Some 231 thousand Indonesian Muslims are expected to perform the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia this year.

(INE)

Translator: Anom Prihantoro, Suharto
Editor: Eliswan Azly
Copyright © ANTARA 2019