"(The rumors) are incorrect and are a hoax. If someone said that the Hajj fund is used for other purposes by the government, including for the development of the new capital, then they are blatantly wrong," Qoumas stated during a press conference at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Tuesday.
The minister clarified that the government, through the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH), has instead subsidized the Hajj fee to lessen the financial pressure that every prospective pilgrim must bear.
Prospective pilgrims will be required to pay solely a part of the entire Hajj cost to be borne, he remarked.
Meanwhile, BPKH Head Anggito Abimanyu noted that of the Rp81.7-million (US$5,555) total Hajj cost for every person, prospective Indonesian Hajj pilgrims are required to pay only Rp39.9 million (US$2,713) as was agreed between the government and the House of Representatives (DPR RI).
Related news: Saudi Arabia-bound ministry's team to ready hajj catering services
"The total Hajj cost will be Rp81.7 million for every person, and Rp7.5 trillion (US$510 million) has been readied. Prospective Hajj pilgrims are required to pay only Rp39.9 million per person in accordance with the government's policy," Abimanyu explained.
The agency head stated that the Hajj cost had been readied in Saudi Riyal and Indonesian Rupiah and is ready to be transferred to Saudi Arabian parties for hotel, catering, transportation, and other services for Indonesian pilgrims during the Hajj.
"We are ready to disburse the cost in Saudi Riyal or Indonesian Rupiah, as well as (in the form of) living cost coverage or banknotes. What we have prepared is in accordance with the government policies that have been agreed upon with the DPR RI," he remarked.
Related news: Religious Affairs Ministry releases names of eligible Hajj pilgrims
Translator: Indra Arief P, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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