TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician, Hidayat Nur Wahid, urged the government to revoke the ban on independent Umrah pilgrims or Umrah backpackers, as stated in Law No. 8 of 2019 concerning Hajj and Umrah.

The member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VIII and Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) said that the request to amend the law aligns with the Commission VIII’s agenda, which has been included in the House’s priority legislation program or Prolegnas.

“Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah policy is increasingly wide open to the arrival of pilgrims, so the Indonesian government should anticipate it by preparing regulations that can facilitate the process for pilgrims,” Hidayat said in an official statement received in Jakarta, on Thursday, February 22.

The government together with the DPR has been drafting a revision of the law that can cater to the flexibility required in organizing the Hajj pilgrimage, which can be extended to Umrah as well.

Referring to Article 86 (1-2) of Law No. 8 of 2019, which outlines that Umrah pilgrimage trips should be organized by Umrah pilgrimage organizers (PPIU), namely travel agencies registered and licensed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hidayat opined that in light of Saudi Arabia's tourist visa policy, Indonesians could perform Umrah independently by simply purchasing a plane ticket and registering themselves on Saudi’s app called Nusuk.

“Of course, the new provisions also entail the responsibility of individuals performing the Umrah pilgrimage independently, and the state must still be present to protect all citizens if problems arise,” he stressed.

Hidayat also believed that the legalization of Umrah backpackers would not negatively impact travel agencies, as they already have their niches with various services.

“With increasing queues for the Hajj pilgrimage, the Umrah pilgrimage which is often considered a small Hajj can be a solution to satisfy the yearning of Indonesians to visit the Holy Land,” Hidayat said.

ANTARA

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