Question Airline Bans Flight Attendants from Wearing Hijab, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin Comments

Dream - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin commented on the news of an Indonesian airline that prohibits its flight attendants from wearing hijab while on duty.

"Regarding the hijab issue, I think it needs to be checked if it's true because until now there is no ban on wearing hijab," said Vice President Ma'ruf Amin at the Presidential Palace in Yogyakarta, quoted from Liputan6.com, Sunday, February 5, 2023.

According to Ma'ruf, the ban on wearing hijab is strange because currently in all institutions such as the TNI/Polri, it has been allowed.

"Not anymore, in the police, in the military, everyone is already wearing hijab, in universities, everywhere is allowed," he said.

"So if there is a ban on wearing hijab, it's a bit strange, I think we need to check it again, it needs to be examined," he added.

The Indonesian National Police officially accommodates the wishes of its members and civil servants working within the police environment to wear hijab since May 2015.

This rule is stated in the National Police Chief's Decision Number: 245/III/2015 dated March 25, 2015, regarding changes to some of the National Police Chief's Decisions, Number: SKEP/702/X/2005 dated September 30, 2006, regarding the use of police uniforms by police officers and police civil servants.

Previously, the Indonesian Parliament's Commission VI from the Gerindra Faction, Andre Rosiade, criticized Garuda Indonesia for banning flight attendants from wearing hijab. 

"Indonesia is a country with a majority Muslim population. We can see that in various airlines, there are already many flight attendants wearing hijab. Even in Citilink, there are flight attendants wearing hijab. But in Garuda, there are still regulations that prohibit flight attendants from wearing Muslim clothing hijab to cover their aurat," said Andre.

Responding to the criticism, PT Garuda Indonesia Ybk continues to have intensive discussions with stakeholders regarding the plan to allow flight attendants to wear hijab. Garuda Indonesia, in principle, does not prohibit flight attendants from wearing hijab.

"We have the same values and vision based on input from various parties regarding the attributes of flight attendant uniforms, especially regarding the use of hijab for flight attendants," said the President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra.

Currently, through several flight routes, Garuda Indonesia has implemented adjustments to the attributes of flight attendant uniforms based on destination regulations and related to the interests of Hajj flight services, where flight attendants wear abaya uniforms accompanied by hijab.

Irfan said that the plan to allow flight attendants to wear hijab needs to be based on prudent and comprehensive studies on the adjustment of policies regarding flight attendant uniform attributes, both from operational and other supporting aspects for the interests of the flight attendant profession.

"Therefore, we continue to intensify discussions, considering that this needs to be carefully and wisely addressed, especially regarding the readiness of wearing hijab in flight attendant uniforms which should not only be viewed from the aspects of service and safety, but also ensure the preservation of the flight attendants' interests as individuals who choose the option of wearing hijab in their readiness as the forefront of Garuda Indonesia's flight service." he added.

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin Reveals Reasons Behind the Proposal to Increase Hajj Costs in 2023: Previous Subsidies Were Too Large

Dream - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said that the proposed increase in the cost of Hajj travel (Bipih) 1444H/2023M, amounting to IDR 69,193,733.60 per pilgrim, by Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, is to maintain the sustainability of Hajj subsidies from the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH). The proposed Bipih has increased from the 2022 Bipih, which was at IDR 39.8 million.

"I think the subsidy given for the Hajj expenses last year was too large, 59 percent. Because of that, the optimization of the development of the Hajj fund was taken into consideration," said Ma'ruf Amin, quoted from the Wapres website, Thursday, January 26, 2023.

According to Ma'ruf, the impact of excessive subsidies is feared to erode the principal Hajj funds at BPKH, making it difficult to subsidize Hajj costs in the future.

"Therefore, there needs to be an adjustment in the price that, even if subsidized, does not disrupt the subsidies for the next Hajj pilgrims. So, the sustainability of the subsidies is not disturbed," he explained.

As for the adjustment of the Bipih costs, he revealed that it is the authority of the Ministry of Religious Affairs to propose to the Indonesian Parliament.

"So, how much the adjustment will be, I think that's what the Minister of Religious Affairs has proposed. I think the Indonesian Parliament will discuss which one is more appropriate. If it needs to be subsidized, it is hoped that the subsidy will not disrupt the subsidies for the next Hajj pilgrims," he said.

Ma'ruf reiterated that the Hajj costs, which reached 59 percent last year, were endangering BPKH's finances, so they need to be rationalized.

"I hope that we can find a more rational amount that can be understood by the pilgrims who will perform Hajj and also ensure that the subsidies provided are not disrupted," he said.

For information, the Ministry of Religious Affairs proposed that the Travel Cost of Hajj (Bipih) 1444 H/2023 M, which must be paid by Hajj pilgrims, is IDR 69,193,733.60.

This amount is 70 percent of the average proposed Hajj Organizing Cost (BPIH), which amounts to IDR 98,893,909.11 per pilgrim. The remaining 30 percent (IDR 29,700,175) will be taken from the benefits of managing the Hajj fund.