Ministry Of Religion: The Cost Of The 2021 Hajj Has Yet To Be Determined And Is Still Being Discussed By The Working Committee

JAKARTA - Acting Director General of Haj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religion Khoirizi H Dasir stated that the 1442 H / 2021 M Hajj Implementation Fee (BPIH) has not been determined and will still be discussed in a working committee meeting.

"There is no stipulation yet. This year's Hajj costs are still being discussed intensively by the Working Committee of the Ministry of Religion and Commission VIII of the DPR," said Khoirizi in his official statement received in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Wednesday, April 7.

Khoirizi said that until now the Ministry of Religion and the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) have not been able to determine the amount of this year's Haj costs. The figures that appeared in the Joint Hearing Meeting with Commission VIII DPR were only scenarios or descriptions.

According to him, discussion of the costs of the pilgrimage is included in the preparation and mitigation stages of organizing the pilgrimage during the pandemic.

The discussion was held while waiting for official information regarding the certainty of the quota for the departure of this year's pilgrims from Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the discussion on the cost of Hajj is carried out with the assumptions of quotas according to the scenario that has been formulated.

"Because there is no certainty on the quota, the discussion on the cost of Hajj is based on an assumptive scenario, starting from the quota of 30 percent, 25 percent, 20 percent, even up to only 5 percent," said Khoirizi.

Meanwhile, regarding the potential increase in the cost of Hajj, he did not deny that there were three factors that influenced it, namely the increase in the dollar exchange rate, the increase in taxes from 5 percent to 15 percent, and the necessity to implement health protocols.

"Haj during a pandemic requires swab checks, maintaining distance, and limiting room capacity, as well as quarantine and others. All of this will certainly have an impact on the cost of Hajj," he said.

Khoirizi emphasized that his party together with Commission VIII will continue to strive to prepare the best service for the congregation. For example, to reduce mobility, this year it is planned that consumption will be provided three times a day, so that congregations do not have to go out to look for food.

"The Ministry of Religion together with Commission VIII will continue to do their best, even if there is an increase in the cost of Hajj, it will not burden the congregation," he said.