REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) Law Commission, Ikhsan Abdullah, said Hajj funds belong to the people that had been kept in bank appointed by Ministry of Religious Affairs. So that if it used for other purposes, it will violate the rights of people who mandate the funds through the bank.

Therefore, he thought President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s instruction to invest hajj funds was not appropriate. It was because Hajj funds can only be used for pilgrimage.

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"The government need to obtain permits and approvals from all owners of the pilgrim funds," he said to Republika.co.id on Thursday.

He added, the government did not have a rights to use the Hajj funds for other purposes. "Without the approval of the pilgrims, it will not be lawful," he said.

The legal basis for the government not to use Hajj funds, was Law No 21 of 2008 on Sharia Banking. He explained, if there's something happend to the money, then the banks must be responsible.

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