"Since 2014, Mr. Prabowo has had a vision to establish a Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. This has been consistent through the 2019 and 2024 presidential elections," said Simanjuntak, here on Saturday.
He said the next step after determining the nomenclature is to wait for the issuance of the Presidential Regulation which will regulate the organizational structure and work procedures, as well as the institutions of the new ministry.
"After the law is passed, the next step is to draft a Presidential Regulation. This Presidential Regulation will further regulate the institutional and structure of the ministry," said Simanjuntak.
He emphasized that the formation of this ministry was not a quick response to the dynamics of Hajj administration in recent years, but rather part of a long-planned Hajj reform agenda.
"This is not a reaction to the 2024 incident or any other incident in previous years. From the beginning, the formation of this ministry was part of Prabowo's commitment to improving Hajj governance," said Simanjuntak, who is also Prabowo Subianto's spokesperson.
However, the new ministry's formation was hampered by Law No. 8 of 2019, which stipulates that the Ministry of Religious Affairs is the organizer of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Therefore, as a transitional solution, the Hajj Organizing Agency (BP Haji) was established.
After the law was revised and the majority of factions in the House of Representatives supported the establishment of the Ministry of Hajj, this was in line with the President's vision.
"Thank God, now we just have to wait for the finalization of the implementing regulations," he said.
Commission VIII of the House and the Government previously agreed to change the 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 said this changes align with the House's wishes.
"The government's Problem Inventory List is already a ministry. And we're happy because this is basically our proposal," said Dasopang.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Katriana
Editor: Arie Novarina
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