Jakarta, NU Online
Minister of Finance Chatib Basri and Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali signed a memorandum of understanding on hajj fund placement in government sukuk or Islamic (SBSN) directly at the office of the Ministry of Finance, on Friday (22/11).<>

This agreement was an amendment to the memorandum of understanding between both parties on 22 April 2009 on the procedures for the placement of funds in SBSN.

Suryadharma said the huge amount of hajj funds needed detailed settings to provide benefits for Muslim community in Indonesia.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said Suryadharma, in the Islamic Economics Movement (Gres!) recently hinted that the hajj funds should be managed through Islamic instruments. 

"The Ministry of Religious Affairs chooses investment instruments based on the principles of security and optimization," said the Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP).

"The fund will be returned to the Hajj pilgrims for example in the form of subsidies for boarding services, catering and transport," he said.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq