Reasons for DPR Requesting 80 Garuda "Business Class" Seats: Supervision of Hajj Pilgrimage
The Secretary General (Secretary General) of the DPR, Indra Iskandar, revealed the reason why he asked Garuda Indonesia to prepare 80 business class seats for DPR members to go on the pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Indra explained, the request was submitted within the framework of the DPR's supervisory function of the implementation of the pilgrimage.
"The Hajj team is divided into 2 teams, the Hajj preparation monitoring team and the Hajj monitoring team. So, we have arranged the departure schedules for the monitoring team from the DPR," Indra said when contacted, Wednesday (14/6/2023).
Indra admitted that it was he who contacted Garuda Indonesia President Director Irfan Setiaputra to request the 80 business class seats.
The reason is, Indra is in charge of administration in the DPR. What's more, the DPR still has not received certainty regarding the availability of seats to go to Mecca.
"So I called the Garuda CEO. Because he is an old friend of mine. He often helps out. I called, 'Can you please help me find around 80 seats for the DPR?' We have a budget that can reach business class," he said.
"Until 3 days ago, we have not received any description from our provider, the travel agency has not confirmed the flight seats to Mecca and Medina," continued Indra.
Indra said Irfan was still working on Garuda to provide 80 business class seats for members of the DPR.
According to him, not all of the 80 business class seats are for DPR members, but there is a support team from the secretariat.
He also stressed that the 80 business class seats were not free, but had been budgeted for by the DPR.
"Yes, it's the DPR's budget. Where is it, when members of the DPR are the duty of the state. Which ones are free. If you want to go to heaven, you are told to pray, you are told to do charity, you are told to give alms," he explained.
Meanwhile, said Indra, the DPR will look for alternative foreign airlines if Garuda cannot prepare 80 seats.
However, the DPR still wants Garuda Indonesia to be the top choice.
"The alternative is that we have to come from foreign flights. We all want Garuda. If we don't get Garuda, what will we do? We are passionate about red and white. If Garuda doesn't have a seat, what should we do? Take a boat?" he added.
Previously, Garuda Indonesia President Director (Director) Irfan Setiaputra revealed that the DPR had requested that as many as 80 business class seats be prepared for members of the DPR to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Irfan said that the request was submitted by DPR Secretary General Indra Iskandar.
As for the DPR's request, Irfan leaked it while attending a hearing with Commission VI of the DPR at the DPR Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday (13/6/2023).
"Earlier, yesterday we were contacted by the Secretary General of the DPR to ensure that there are around 80 additional members of the DPR to be able to go on pilgrimage," said Irfan.
However, Irfan said Garuda could not confirm the additional planes for DPR members to go on the pilgrimage.
This is because it needs permission from the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia.
"That's staying tuned, we can't promise additional planes yet. But this is indeed a matter of permission from GACA Saudi Arabia which actually requires the 22nd to be the last day of flights for Hajj," he said.
Even so, said Irfan, Garuda is still trying to provide business class seats for DPR members who want to go on pilgrimage.
"Hopefully we can provide seats, especially business class according to the expectations of ladies and gentlemen in the DPR," added Irfan.
Alasan DPR Minta 80 Kursi "Business Class" Garuda: Pengawasan Ibadah Haji
Sekretaris Jenderal (Sekjen) DPR Indra Iskandar mengungkap alasan kenapa pihaknya meminta Garuda Indonesia menyiapkan 80 kursi business class untuk anggota DPR berangkat ibadah haji ke Tanah Suci.
Indra menjelaskan, permintaan itu diajukan dalam rangka fungsi pengawasan yang DPR lakukan terhadap pelaksanaan ibadah haji.
"Tim haji itu dibagi dalam 2 tim, tim pengawasan persiapan haji dan tim pengawasan pelaksanaan haji. Jadi, kegiatan itu kami sudah mengatur jadwal-jadwal keberangkatan tim pengawas dari DPR," ujar Indra saat dihubungi, Rabu (14/6/2023).
Indra mengakui bahwa dirinya lah yang menghubungi Direktur Utama (Dirut) Garuda Indonesia Irfan Setiaputra untuk meminta 80 kursi business class tersebut.
Pasalnya, Indra merupakan penanggung jawab administrasi di DPR. Lebih-lebih, DPR masih belum mendapat kepastian terkait ketersediaan kursi untuk berangkat ke Mekkah.
"Maka saya telepon Dirut Garuda. Karena dia sahabat lama saya. Dia sering membantu. Saya telepon, 'bisa minta tolong enggak untuk membantu mencarikan sekitar 80 seat untuk kepentingan DPR?' Kami itu punya anggaran bisa mencapai untuk kelas bisnis," tuturnya.
"Sampai 3 hari lalu, kami belum mendapat gambaran tentang dari penyedia kami dari travel bironya belum memastikan soal kursi penerbangan ke Mekkah dan Madinah," sambung Indra.
Indra mengatakan, Irfan masih mengupayakan agar Garuda bisa menyediakan 80 kursi business class bagi anggota DPR.
Menurutnya, 80 kursi business class ini tidak semuanya untuk anggota DPR, melainkan ada tim pendukung dari pihak sekretariat.
Dia turut menegaskan 80 kursi business class tidak gratis, melainkan sudah dianggarkan oleh DPR.
"Ya anggaran DPR lah. Mana ada, masa anggota DPR tugasnya tugas negara. Mana ada yang gratis. Mau masuk surga aja disuruh sholat, disuruh beramal, disuruh sedekah," jelasnya.
Sementara itu, kata Indra, DPR akan mencari alternatif maskapai asing apabila Garuda tidak bisa menyiapkan 80 kursi.
Namun, DPR tetap ingin agar Garuda Indonesia yang menjadi pilihan utama.
"Alternatifnya ya kita harus dari penerbangan asing. Kalau kami sih semuanya pengennya Garuda. Kalau enggak dapat Garuda mau diapain. Kami semangat nya merah putih. Kalau Garuda nya enggak ada seatnya mau gimana? Naik perahu?" imbuhnya.
Sebelumnya, Direktur Utama (Dirut) Garuda Indonesia Irfan Setiaputra mengungkapkan DPR meminta disiapkan sebanyak 80 kursi business class untuk anggota DPR berangkat haji ke Tanah Suci.
Irfan mengatakan, permintaan tersebut disampaikan oleh Sekjen DPR Indra Iskandar.
Adapun permintaan DPR ini Irfan bocorkan saat menghadiri rapat dengar pendapat bersama Komisi VI DPR di Gedung DPR, Senayan, Jakarta, Selasa (13/6/2023).
"Tadi, kemarin kami dihubungi Sekjen DPR untuk memastikan ada sekitar tambahan 80 anggota DPR untuk bisa berangkat haji," ujar Irfan.
Akan tetapi, Irfan mengatakan Garuda belum bisa memastikan tambahan pesawat untuk anggota DPR berangkat haji tersebut.
Sebab, perlu izin dari General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) Arab Saudi.
"Itu stay tuned, kami belum bisa menjanjikan tambahan pesawat. Tapi memang ini persoalan izin dari GACA Arab Saudi yang sebenarnya mensyaratkan tanggal 22 adalah hari terakhir penerbangan untuk haji," tuturnya.
Meski demikian, kata Irfan, Garuda tetap berupaya menyediakan kursi business class bagi anggota DPR yang mau berangkat haji.
"Mudah-mudahan kita bisa menyediakan seat, khususnya business class sesuai dengan harapan dari bapak/ibu sekalian di DPR," imbuh Irfan.