Jokowi Calls on BPKH to Manage Hajj Funds Carefully
- Kemenag
Jakarta – The Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) to be careful in managing hajj funds, which amount to hundreds of trillions rupiahs.
"I believe this to BPKH, you will always be monitored by public. So, be careful in managing the funds of this community. It must be truly managed profesionally, prioritizing accountability, prioritizing sharia principles and extreme caution," the President said at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday.
"All of the money are people's money, the people's money," the President stated.
Moreover, the Head of State, 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," President Widodo emphasized.
The President also asked 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 Bank of Indonesia. 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," President Jokowi remarked.
"Don't let cases like that happen,"
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.
President Jokowi 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 Hajj costs for departing pilgrims, but could provide greater benefits for pilgrims waiting in long queues.
The President also mentioned: "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, the President continued.
"I believe 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.