Hajj Costs Rp 69 Million, Coordinating Minister For Human Development And Culture Muhadjir: It's Cheaper Than It Should Be

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy in the Jakarta Presidential Palace on Wednesday (25/1/2023). (ANTARA)

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy said that so far the pilgrims have paid for Hajj Travel fees (BPIH) cheaper than they should.

"So all this time the funds for the Hajj have actually been below the costs that should have been, so far the government has provided indirect subsidies," said Muhadjir at the Jakarta Presidential Palace on Wednesday, January 25.

The Ministry of Religion proposes that the average BPIH for 1444 Hijri/2023 is IDR 69,193,733 per person, higher than the cost of Hajj travel in 2022 which is set at IDR 39,886,009 per person.

"Well, while it is managed with the BPKH (Hajj Financial Management Agency), we hope that there will indeed be added value from the incoming funds that are still queuing, but that is not yet the maximum," said Muhadjir.

If the increase in the cost of Hajj continues to be postponed, Muhadjir is even more worried that it will burden the government.

"Therefore, every year there is actually a fee charged to prospective pilgrims below the supposed value. That's why we are trying to make adjustments so that the sustainability of this pilgrimage can be guaranteed," said Muhadjir.

However, Muhadjir said the figure of IDR 69 million was still a government proposal.

"We will see the provisional proposal, yes, how is the negotiation process, the process of meeting it, agreement with the DPR," said Muhadjir.

According to Muhadjir, if there is no adjustment to the BPIH value, the value of the benefits of managing the hajj funds will expire in less than 10 years.

"Earlier I talked to the Minister of Religion about (after) less than 10 years. But this is temporary, yes, the Minister of Religion knows better," said Muhadjir.

In a joint working meeting with Commission VIII DPR RI on January 19, 2023, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas explained that the proposed average pilgrimage costs cover 70 percent of the proposed BPIH average of IDR 98,893,909 per person.

The remaining 30 percent or Rp29,700,175 is taken from the value of the benefits of managing hajj funds.

According to the Minister of Religion, the new BPIH component formulation is applied to balance the burden on the congregation with the sustainability of the use of the value of the benefits of managing hajj funds in the future.

However, the proposed scheme will be discussed again with Commission VIII of the DPR RI to find a middle ground. The Ministry of Religion wants the cost of Hajj to be accepted by all parties for the sustainability of hajj funds.

In the midst of the proposed increase in the cost of Hajj 2023, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia stated that it would reduce the cost of Hajj in 2023 to 30 percent.

Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Jeddah Eko Hartono received information that Saudi Arabia had indeed lowered the price of hajj packages for domestic pilgrims at varying prices depending on its services ranging from 3,960 Riyal Saudi Arabia (around Rp. 16 million), 6,000 Riyals (Rp. 24 million), to 10,000 Riyal (Rp. 40 million).