On Thursday, November 19, 2020, the Sharia Financial Management Study Program held a Public Lecture, under the theme “Development of the Hajj Fund Management Ecosystem.” The event comprised two sessions: session 1 from 10:00 to 11:30 WIB and session 2 from 13:00 to 16:00 WIB. Mr. Anggito Abimanyu (Head of the Hajj Financial Management Agency) was the speaker for session 1, moderated by Dr. Abdul Qoyyum, S.E.I., M.Sc. Fin (Lecturer at the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business). In session 2, Mr. K.H. Muhammad Iqbal Muhajir, Secretary General of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Entrepreneurs Association, served as the speaker, moderated by Furqoul Haq, M.E.I., (Lecturer at the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business). The public lecture was conducted via the Zoom application and was attended by 350 participants.
In the opening of the public lecture, Dr. Afdawaiza, S.Ag., M.Ag., the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business, stated that Indonesia is among the countries where a significant number of individuals undertake the Hajj pilgrimage, leading to a waiting period of over 20 years for the Hajj pilgrimage in Indonesia due to the limited quota in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, there are various challenges associated with the execution of the Hajj pilgrimage, encompassing implementation schemes, regulations, institutions, and the human resources tasked with overseeing the Hajj funds. The personnel responsible for managing Hajj funds must exhibit high-quality competence, trustworthiness, and professionalism to effectively cultivate the Hajj funds for the collective benefit.
Prof. Al Makin, Ph.D., the Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, also stated in his keynote speech that the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business UIN Sunan Kalijaga could play a significant role in the management of Hajj funds. This could be achieved through the organization of education in Hajj management and the preparation of competent human resources for the management of Hajj funds in Indonesia.
In his presentation, Anggito Abimanyu highlighted that Indonesia is a leading nation in sending Hajj pilgrims to Mecca, with 4.7 million regular Hajj pilgrims and 95 thousand special Hajj pilgrims. He also mentioned that the funds managed by BPKH amount to Rp139 trillion, comprising pilgrim deposits of Rp135 trillion and a perpetual fund of Rp3.5 trillion. Additionally, BPKH has various Hajj planning programs, such as the gold mortgage program, Hajj savings, youth Hajj program, and millennial Hajj program.
“We are preparing to launch an intriguing program, which involves using Hajj savings for marriage dowries,” he announced.
The Hajj funds are utilized for various investments, such as property investment, SBSN (Government Sukuk), collaboration with ISDB, and BPKH’s advancement through the digitalization of Hajj and Umrah, along with collaboration with the aviation industry. BPKH also guarantees transparency and accountability in the management of Hajj funds through oversight by the Supervisory Board, the House of Representatives, BPK Audit, ISO Service, and WBS.
Anggito Abimanyu added that graduates from UIN Sunan Kalijaga, particularly from the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business, have a significant chance to become part of BPKH. Employees at BPKH possess strong fundamental values in comprehending the Qur’an and Hadith. The Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business at UIN Sunan Kalijaga serves as the focal point for these values, emphasizing integrity and a deep understanding of the Qur’an and Hadith.
In the second session, the speakers elaborated on ASPHURINDO, an association of entrepreneurs established in 2011 to foster the development of Hajj and Umrah travel businesses. The Hajj and Umrah travel sector is currently highly sought after by the public, as many Indonesians aspire to undertake these pilgrimages. The primary focus in operating Hajj and Umrah travel businesses includes providing excellent service, experienced companions with professional certification, ensuring business legality, maintaining competitive costs, and producing accountable and transparent financial reports. Currently, there are 1700 licensed travel agencies and 570 unlicensed travel agencies operating in Indonesia. Challenges facing the Umrah and Hajj business during the pandemic encompass government regulations in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, as well as a decline in interest in the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage due to economic recession.
Contributors: Aulia Nurul, Inayah Nadhira | Editor: AN