Commission VIII Of The House Of Representatives Asks The Government To Lobby Saudi Arabia To Increase The 2025 Hajj Quota

JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives Marwan Dasopang asked the government to immediately lobby the Government of Saudi Arabia to provide additional 2025 hajj quota. Marwan hopes that there will be an additional 5,000 to 10,000 quotas for Indonesian pilgrims.

"We hope that the government will lobby Saudi Arabia to increase this hajj quota," said Marwan Dasopang, Wednesday, January 8.

Marwan explained, currently the waiting list for pilgrims reaches more than five million pilgrims. So that prospective pilgrims in several areas have to wait for decades to be able to go for Hajj.

"Many pilgrims are worried that they will not be able to perform the pilgrimage because they are old and sick but on the one hand, the waiting list for leaving for Hajj is still long. So, we ask the government to encourage Saudi Arabia to increase the quota for Indonesian pilgrims," he explained.

According to Marwan, additional proposals for the hajj quota can be made between the Government of Indonesia and the Government of Saudi Arabia. In the near future, said Marwan, the DPR's hajj work committee will go to Saudi Arabia to sign a memorandum of understanding.

"I and the Panja Hajj from Commission VIII of the DPR have also met with Mr. President Prabowo. If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Prabowo will make a pilgrimage abroad in the near future, we hope that one of the agendas is to meet with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ask for an additional quota of pilgrims in 2025," he said.

Marwan said that on the occasion of meeting President Prabowo Panja Haji, he also expressed his gratitude for the government's attitude in discussing with the DPR so that the 2025 Hajj Implementation Fee (BPIH) could be significantly reduced from the initial proposal.

According to him, the decrease in BPIH to Rp. 4 million also has an impact on the ease of Hajj costs borne by prospective pilgrims.

"The agreed amount of Bipih is IDR 55,431,750.78, lower IDR 614,421 from 2024, which is IDR 56.04 million. This is an extraordinary achievement in the Government of President Prabowo. The rupiah seats for SAR and the value of taxes in Saudi have increased, but the cost of Hajj has decreased," he said.

In addition, Marwan assessed, the determination of the lower Hajj costs compared to last year must be accompanied by the best Hajj services to Indonesian pilgrims.

"The government must ensure that the guidance, protection and services provided in organizing this year's Hajj must be better than last year," he concluded.