"The amount is prepared by the BPKH in accordance with the government's policy that has been approved by the House of Representatives (DPR)," Abimanyu noted in his statement broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel on Tuesday.
Abimanyu conveyed the statement after attending a limited cabinet meeting held to discuss preparations for the 2022 Hajj pilgrimage led by President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace, Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday.
According to the BPKH head, some Rp81.7 million is required per pilgrim for the implementation of the Hajj pilgrimage. However, each pilgrim is only required to pay around Rp39.9 million, and the government subsidizes the rest of the cost.
"We previously conveyed through the Minister of Religious Affairs at today's meeting that all financing was ready in the form of Saudi Riyal, in the form of Rupiah, as well as for living costs in the form of banknotes," he expounded.
On the same occasion, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas stressed that the BPKH head's explanation has clarified that the rumors of funds collected for Hajj purposes are being used by the government for various needs, including for the development of the new capital Nusantara, are hoaxes.
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"It is totally untrue. In fact, through the BPKH, the government provides subsidies for the pilgrims, so that they do not have to pay a high cost," the minister explained.
For the implementation of the 2022 Hajj pilgrimage, Indonesia received a pilgrim quota of 100,051 people.
Although the quota is only half of the allocation received by the country earlier before the pandemic hit, Qoumas expressed gratitude that Indonesia could send its pilgrims again after the two-year ban due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Translator: Gilang Galiartha, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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