Govt to audit haj fund management to curb frauds
Efforts to improve governance on haj management done by the Haj and Umrah Ministry had resulted in the reduced waiting time for pilgrims under state-subsidized regular program from 49 years to 14 years.
The Indonesian government plans to conduct a forensic audit of the Haj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) to combat corruption and fraudulent practices within the Haj administration. This initiative comes as part of President Prabowo Subianto's administration's efforts to enhance governance in pilgrimage management. Following a brief meeting at the Presidential Palace on Monday, Haj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf announced that the President has ordered his ministry to "clean up" haj management, specifically targeting what the minister described as "cartel" and "mafia" practices.
The Haj and Umrah Ministry has recently improved waiting times for pilgrims under the subsidized regular program, reducing the duration from 49 years to 14 years. Minister Irfan emphasized that the President greatly appreciates the ministry's efforts to eliminate cartels, violations, and fraud that harm prospective pilgrims. One of the measures implemented to improve governance includes a forensic audit of BPKH, an independent body responsible for managing Haj funds, separate from the ministry overseeing general haj operations.
BPKH was established in 2017, while the Haj and Umrah Ministry was formed last year to assume responsibility for Haj management from the Religious Affairs Ministry.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
