REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAMBI - Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifudin, who was elected as a legislator for the 2014-2019 term, said he had withdrawn from the House to focus on his task of managing the hajj pilgrimage program this year.

"I want to focus on my task of carrying out the government's hajj pilgrimage program this year," the minister stated here at a function while opening the Holy Qur'an reading contest on Wednesday.

He said his mandate was to successfully carry out the task under hand. "I have to accomplish the mandate given by the President. This concerns managing the hajj pilgrims. Moreover, I have been appointed as the Indonesian Hajj Pilgrimage Program Chief," he added.

During the legislative elections held on April 9, Lukman Hakim Saifudin from the United Development Party (PPP) was elected to the House. The new members of the House of Representatives for the 2014 - 2019 term will be inaugurated on October 1, 2014. Those who will be installed have to resign from any position they hold in the government.

Meanwhile, the hajj pilgrimage season this year will continue till October, 2014. When asked whether he had withdrawn as a legislator-elect of the House of Representatives (DPR) because he has been offered a ministerial post in the new government, Lukman denied it.

"I have to stress that I want to accomplish my job to organize the government's pilgrimage program this year. There is no such offer (of a ministerial post)," he said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika