Erick Asks BUMN to Help Improve the Quality of Hajj Services

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir affirmed the SOE's commitment to support improving the quality of Hajj services. Erick also encouraged a number of state-owned enterprises such as PT Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), PT Garuda Indonesia, PT PP, and Indonesia Financial Group (IFG) to collaborate with the Haji Organizing Agency (BP Haji).

“We have the same commitment to be blessed if we serve the people so that they can also be comfortable, safe, and good,” Erick said during a press conference with Head of the Haj Organizing Agency (BP Hajj) Gus Irfan and BP Deputy Haji Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak at the office of the Ministry of BUMN, Jakarta, Tuesday (19/11/2024).

As a large nation with a large Muslim population, Erick believes that the standard of Hajj services for Indonesian worshippers should be improved. Erick opened up opportunities for more intense collaboration with BP Hajj and encouraged to oversee the transition process in realizing improved quality of Hajj services.

“Earlier we discussed at length according to the instructions of Mr President  Prabowo how this Hajj service should be improved in quality,” Erick said.

In addition to BSI, Erick also asked Garuda Indonesia President Director Wamildan Tsani to map the readiness of Garuda Indonesia's fleet of aircraft to serve Hajj pilgrims. Erick said the readiness of the aircraft fleet was crucial in serving Hajj operations.

“We first map the situation of the number of aircraft available, the facilities we have, who knows we can create an aggregator between Garuda and all private flights so that the need for this number of aircraft can be sufficient,” Erick said.

Erick with Gus Irfan and Dahnil also discussed plans for the development of Indonesian villages in Mecca. Erick also invited PT PP, which has experience in building infrastructure, to synergize with BP Haji.

“PT PP again we are looking at whether it may be the big dream of all of us and of course Mr. President Prabowo, especially as he has repeatedly stated, try to see how there are Indonesian villages, especially Indonesian homes for integrated Hajj services,” Erick said.

Erick hopes the full support of SOEs can help BP Hajj to improve the standard of Hajj services going forward. Erick is ready to discuss further the BP Hajj plans in preparing for a better procession of Hajj services. “I ask all directors to support the holding of the Hajj which should be more transparent, efficient, far from slander and we ensure how this community can be properly served,” Erick said.

Head of the Haj Organising Agency (BP Hajj) Gus Irfan welcomed Erick's support which deployed a number of state-owned enterprises to assist BP Hajj in improving the standard of Hajj services. Gus Irfan said he would delve further into the plans to build an Indonesian hajj village in the holy land.

“(Hajj village) that Mr President also said, he hopes that we have some kind of Indonesian Hajj village in Mecca but on the technicalities we will go deeper,” Gus Irfan said.