Lawmakers urge fast-tracking Presidential Regulation on Immigration Governance

Jakarta — Member of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Rieke Diah Pitaloka, has urged the government to fast-track the enactment of the Presidential Regulation on Immigration Governance, to anticipate the practice of Hajj departures using unofficial visas.

Citing the DPR’s Hajj Supervisory Team, she said the regulation is important to strengthen the system for supervising Indonesian citizens travelling abroad, including for the administration of Hajj and Umrah.

‘The Presidential Regulation on Immigration Governance must be fast-tracked so that oversight of the mobility of Indonesian citizens, including Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, has a stronger legal basis,’ she said in a statement from Jakarta on Tuesday.

Rieke said strengthening the immigration system is an urgent step to prevent illegal Hajj practices that have often been found in recent years.

She pointed out that using Umrah visas for performing Hajj is not a simple matter because it involves inter-agency oversight and gaps in immigration governance.

‘The case of using non-Hajj visas must be a serious concern together. Immigration supervision must be strengthened so that no citizen travels through channels that do not comply with the rules,’ she said.

She added that strengthening immigration is not only related to the Hajj, but also to protecting Indonesian citizens abroad from potential acts of human trafficking. In several cases, the method of going abroad often exploits Umrah or tourism visas.

‘Strengthening immigration governance is important not only for Hajj, but also for protecting Indonesians overseas,’ she said.

The DPR Hajj Working Team hopes the regulation will be able to reinforce supervision at departure points while narrowing the space for illegal travel. With tighter supervision, the Hajj process is expected to be more orderly, safe, and in accordance with applicable laws in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.