Addressing the Discourse on BPKH Forensic Audit, DPR Commission VIII Presents 5 Key Notes

The Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), Abidin Fikri, has requested the government, specifically the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, to openly explain the underlying considerations regarding the urgency of a forensic audit of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH).

Abidin made this request in response to statements from the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, who previously mentioned the possibility of a forensic audit of the Hajj fund management institution. Abidin stated that the management of Hajj funds is a public trust involving the interests of millions of prospective pilgrims. Therefore, every supervisory step must be assessed objectively.

“Hajj funds are the pilgrims’ funds, not merely financial assets,” Abidin said at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (29/09/2026). He added that all forms of oversight, including forensic audits, must be directed towards strengthening public trust and ensuring fair benefits for pilgrims.

The politician, known for his active role in monitoring service readiness and the revision of Hajj financial management regulations, emphasised that Commission VIII of the DPR, in principle, does not reject forensic audits as an oversight instrument. However, such a mechanism must be conducted based on facts, concrete indications, and a clear legal framework. This is essential to avoid institutional confusion or placing an undue burden on the Hajj pilgrimage process.

According to Abidin, oversight of the BPKH should not be merely reactive but must be preventive and sustainable. He stressed that the primary concern is not simply who conducts the audit, but whether the results of the oversight answer the public’s question: whether the Hajj funds are managed safely, productively, transparently, and provide real benefits to pilgrims.

To this end, Commission VIII will continue to oversee the improvement of Hajj financial governance through regulatory strengthening and cross-institutional coordination, including with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, BPKH, and the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK) as the state auditor. It is noted that over the last eight years, the BPKH has received Unqualified Opinions (WTP) from the BPK.

During the session, Abidin also detailed five directives and requests from Commission VIII of the DPR to the Government in response to this controversy. First, the government is requested to explain openly to the public the considerations regarding the urgency or lack thereof of a forensic audit of the BPKH. Second, it must ensure that Hajj financial oversight proceeds in accordance with the respective authorities of each state institution.