President asks BPKH to manage Hajj funds carefully and professionally

Thepresidentpost.id - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) to be professional, accountable, careful and prioritize sharia principles in managing Hajj funds.

The President emphasized this when opening the 2023 Working Meeting (Raker) and the 6th Anniversary of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/12/2023).

“I entrust this to you, be careful in managing the funds of this community. It must be truly managed professionally, prioritizing accountability, prioritizing sharia principles and extreme caution. "Because once again, this is people's money, the people's money," said the President.

The President said that the funds managed by BPKH are very large, reaching IDR 165 trillion. This causes BPKH's performance and movements to always be the center of public attention.

"The Head of BPKH said earlier that IDR 165 trillion, that's really big, the funds managed are really big. "So I entrust you to carefully manage the money in BPKH," he said.

The President also requested that funds managed by BPKH be invested in safe investment instruments. Currently, as much as 75 percent of BPKH's managed funds are invested in relatively safe Government Sharia Securities (SBSN).

“Thank God, this is a safe place, at BI. Two percent invested directly, direct investment 2 percent. I also think it's still safe. Don't be like the others, invest in shares whose shares are fried, and lose your money. Remember Jiwasraya, I always remind you of that. "Don't let cases like that happen," he said.

The Head of State said that the government and DPR had set the cost of the Hajj pilgrimage at IDR 93.4 million. As much as 40 percent of these costs are met from investment returns from funds managed by BPKH.

The President also encouraged that in the future the management of Hajj finances could be more innovative accompanied by better internal supervision. Apart from that, the President also encouraged that funds managed by BPKH could do more than just cover the shortfall in Haj costs for departing pilgrims, but could provide greater benefits for pilgrims waiting in long queues.

"By continuing to pay attention to the sustainability of managed Hajj finances and also increasing contributions in the field of sharia economics. "If we can contribute to the development of the sharia economy, that would also be good because the potential in our sharia economy is still very large, both in the sharia financial sector and in the halal industry and others," he said.

"I am sure that BPKH can carry out its duties in a trustworthy manner with a full sense of responsibility so that the implementation of the Hajj pilgrimage will be better in the future," he concluded.

Previously, the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that in managing Hajj funds, BPKH prioritizes the principles of prudence and security.

"Of course we always convey BPKH to these two things; precautionary and security principles. "And, of course at the same time, transparency and accountability in managing it must also be maintained, we don't want these Hajj funds to be lost or mismanaged," said the Minister of Religion.

Also accompanying the President on this occasion were Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy, Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Pramono Anung, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia, and Head of BPKH Fadlul Imansyah. (FID/SLN/UN)