"We are ready if there is a change from BP Haji to the Ministry of Hajj. In fact, we would have more convenience if this agency became a ministry," Yusuf said here on Saturday.
Yusuf stated that there was already an agreement in principle regarding the institutional transformation into a ministry. However, formal ratification still awaits approval in a plenary session of the House of Representatives.
Although the agency was not present at the Working Committee meeting with DPR, they still provided input through the government's hajj technical team.
"If it's later ratified as a ministry, we will be grateful. But it's also a huge mandate. This represents the trust placed in us by President Prabowo and the people through the DPR, and we must repay it with the best possible service for Hajj pilgrims," he said.
BP Haji, he said, had been preparing from the start for two possibilities: remaining an agency or transforming into a ministry. These preparations included the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
"We have prepared hundreds of standard operating procedures (SOPs), from pilgrim registration to other services. So, we just need to adapt them. If this remains an agency, we'll implement the agency's SOPs. If this becomes a ministry, we'll implement the ministry's SOPs," he said.
He emphasized that the change in institutional status would increase greater responsibility in organizing the Hajj pilgrimage.
"This is an extraordinary responsibility. Everyone will be paying attention to us. Therefore, from the beginning, I emphasized to the entire team that we must work seriously. What is expected of us is the best service performance for the pilgrims," he said.
Regarding personnel needs, Yusuf stated that there won't be many changes at the central level. However, regional personnel adjustments will be made within the Ministry of Religious Affairs structure.
"For the central government, there won't be many additional positions for now. However, in the regions, both provincial and district/city, we will recruit some of the Heads of Hajj Divisions and Heads of Hajj Sections to join the structure of the Regional Offices or the Ministry of Hajj Offices," he said.
Commission VIII of the House and the government previously agreed to change BP Haji into a ministry in the discussion of the Draft Law (RUU) concerning Amendments to Law Number 8 of 2008 concerning the Implementation of the Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimages.
Chairman of Commission VIII of the House, Marwan Dasopang, stated that the articles on this matter were agreed upon during the Working Committee meeting on the Draft Law of Hajj held this Friday.
He stated that the changes align with the House's wishes.
"The government's DIM (Problem Inventory List) is now a ministry. And we are pleased because this was our proposal," said Dasopang.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Katriana
Editor: Arie Novarina
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