Follow-up on Recommendations of the 1440 AH / 2019 Hajj Season Report

Episode No. ( 9 )

-       The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs did not provide explanations, nor did it implement the Bureau of State Audit and Administrative Control (SAACB)'s observations for some of the works and procedures of the 2019 Hajj season, which were included in the SAACB follow-up report under important observations and recommendations concerning the approval of programs, plans, procedures, and administrative and financial behaviors related to the 2019 Hajj season...!

·      In one of its recommendation follow-up reports, the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) followed up on its recommendations in its report on the Palestinian Hajj operations for 2019, which amounted to 17 recommendations, whose subjects were general and important and concerned all citizens in Palestine.... The recommendations were focused and at the core of general topics.. including: observations on procedures, complaints from approved pilgrims by the lottery system, and unapproved and incomplete pilgrims against the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, yet the ministry implemented only 4 recommendations out of the 17 recommendations, as noted above, and did not fully implement 10 recommendations (59% of the total recommendations).

·       Below we review some of these recommendations that the Ministry of Awqaf did not implement.. despite everyone's call for addressing the important observations contained in these recommendations according to the rules of transparency and fairness.. !

·       It is clear that the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs did not give the SAACB's recommendations the necessary attention and care, as it implemented only 4 recommendations, generally, 23% of the total recommendations of the 17. At the same time, however, it did not fully implement 10 recommendations (59%), while it implemented 3 recommendations partially (18%)......and its responses in most replies to the recommendations were not sufficient, and not convincing.. which led the SAACB to consider them not implemented.. and that the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs had not implemented such repeated recommendations in Hajj seasons.....!

·       In its follow-up to its audit reports, the SAACB issued its 2022 report dated 8/12/2022; we include below one of these follow-ups concerning a number of the recommendations in the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau's report on an important subject, namely the works of the 2019 Hajj season / Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

·       Unimplemented recommendations

·       Subject: data of the approved Hajj registers

-       What was the recommendation in the SAACB report on the 2019 Hajj season regarding the data of the approved Hajj registers?:

-       Recommendation: It is necessary to approve the data of pilgrims approved for Hajj only through the lottery results, and no names that were not included in the lottery this year should be added...!

-       What action was taken by the concerned party (Ministry of Awqaf) and what was its response?: The ministry replied that names of some pilgrims are entered among the winners after studying their situations and submitting documentation proving permission for them to travel...!

-       SAACB's view: The recommendation was not implemented

·      Subject: electronic system data

-       What was the recommendation in the SAACB report on the 2019 Hajj season regarding the electronic system data?

·       Recommendation: It is necessary to adhere to entering pilgrims' data only during the registration period approved by the ministry, and not to enter pilgrims' data after the electronic draw has been held..!

-       What action was taken by the concerned party (Ministry of Awqaf) and what was its response...?: The reply was: many citizens submit an exceptional registration request after the registration period ends, explaining the reason for their delay, and the ministry studies those requests!

-       SAACB's view: The recommendation was not implemented

·      Subject: renting hotels in Makkah al-Mukarramah

-       What was the recommendation in the SAACB report on the 2019 Hajj season regarding renting hotels in Makkah al-Mukarramah?

·       Recommendation : It is necessary to rent hotels in Makkah al-Mukarramah according to the actual need, for the number of beds required to accommodate the actual pilgrims, and to take into account the carrying capacity of those hotels..!

-       What action was taken by the concerned party (Ministry of Awqaf) and what was its response...?: The reply: hotels in Makkah al-Mukarramah are rented with their full number and services, to the extent possible in accordance with the number of pilgrims!

-       SAACB's view: The recommendation was not implemented

·      Subject: the medical delegation:

-       What was the recommendation in the SAACB report on the 2019 Hajj season regarding the medical delegation?

·       Recommendation: It is necessary to have sufficient coordination between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Awqaf to ensure linking the delegation members to the actual need, and that the delegation does not leave Saudi territory until the pilgrims have been transported and departed to the homeland.

-       No action was taken by the Ministry of Awqaf... and therefore the recommendation was not implemented

·       Subject: the security delegation:

-       What was the recommendation in the SAACB report on the 2019 Hajj season regarding the medical delegation?

·       Recommendation: It is necessary to coordinate between the Ministries of Interior and Awqaf on the required tasks during the Hajj season and to provide the ministry with a report to that effect..!

·       No action was taken by the Ministry of Awqaf... and therefore the recommendation was not implemented

·       Subject: other delegations:

-       What was the recommendation in the SAACB report on the 2019 Hajj season regarding other delegations?

·       Recommendation: It is necessary to base the dispatch of official delegations for the Hajj season, especially those representing ministries and public institutions, on the enforcement of laws, regulations, instructions, and decisions issued by the Council of Ministers in this regard..!

·       No action was taken by the Ministry of Awqaf... and therefore the recommendation was not implemented

·       Subject: substitution requests:

-       What was the recommendation in the SAACB report on the 2019 Hajj season regarding substitution requests?

·       Recommendation: It is necessary to adhere to specific criteria for substitution requests or to reject them, such that they are not subject to discretionary judgment..!

·       No action was taken by the Ministry of Awqaf... and therefore the recommendation was not implemented

·       Subject: number of administrators:

-       What was the recommendation in the SAACB report on the 2019 Hajj season regarding the number of administrators?

·       Recommendation: It is necessary to link the number of administrators sent to the Hajj season annually to the actual need, based on a written work plan..!

·       No action was taken by the Ministry of Awqaf... and therefore the recommendation was not implemented

·       Subject: the estimated Hajj budget:

-       What was the recommendation in the SAACB report on the 2019 Hajj season regarding the estimated budget?

·       Recommendation: It is necessary to prepare an estimated budget and approve it according to the proper procedures so that it includes an estimate of Hajj revenues and expenditures

-       No action was taken by the Ministry of Awqaf... and therefore the recommendation was not implemented

·      Subject: Hajj service fees:

-       What was the recommendation in the SAACB report on the 2019 Hajj season regarding Hajj service fees?

·       Recommendation: Reconsider the amount of the service fees that the ministry charges pilgrims annually based on principles of avoiding excess..!

-       What action was taken by the concerned party (Ministry of Awqaf) and what was its response...?

-       Reply from the Ministry of Awqaf: the adoption of the amount of 90 Jordanian Dinars as the ministry's service fee, to cover administrative expenses for Hajj only, without counting the cost of accommodating the administrative delegation!!

-       SAACB's view: The recommendation was not implemented