TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Religious Affairs Ministry said that to date, 59 would-be pilgrims have asked for a refund after the government decided to cancel the 2021 hajj pilgrims.

“One week after the announcement, 59 regular hajj candidates apply for the return of their payment deposits,” said the Secretary of the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah, Ramadan Harisman, on Thursday, June 10.

Of the number, 25 people registered for special hajj and 34 people from regular hajj. According to Ramadan, the request for a refund will be immediately processed and submitted to the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH).

Based on the regulation, the process could take about nine days until the funds are transferred to the would-be pilgrims’ bank accounts. Ramadan explained that the Computerized Integrated Hajj System (Siskohat) recorded there were 15,476 special hajj would-be pilgrims and 198,371 regular hajj would-be pilgrims who have made the full payment.

The Religious Affairs Ministry’s Decree No. 660/2021 on the cancellation of hajj pilgrimage in 1441 Hijri or 2020 noted that would-be pilgrims are allowed to take back their payment deposits by filing a written request to the religious affairs offices or special hajj organizers (PIHK) where they registered.

In 2020, the ministry recorded that 1,688 would-be pilgrims of regular hajj and 438 would-be pilgrims of special hajj requested a full refund.

Last week, June 3, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas announced that the government decided to cancel the 2021 hajj pilgrimage amid concerns over the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and for the safety of pilgrims.

Read: DPR Denies Hajj Funds Used for Infrastructure

ANTARA