DPR Working Committee Says Prabowo Will Meet Saudi Arabian King To Discuss Hajj Village And Additional Quota

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Working Committee (Panja) of the DPR Hajj Abdul Wachid revealed that his party met with President Prabowo Subianto to report the cost of organizing the 1446 H/2025 M Hajj (BPIH) which was cheaper than last year.

"So yesterday afternoon we were accepted by the President, in principle the President thanked the Panja Hajj, who had worked and could reduce the cost of Hajj. The President was very happy, but the President also hoped that why it could not go down again, right? That's what I have to convey," said Wachid, Wednesday, January 8.

Abdul Wachid said President Prabowo would visit Saudi Arabia to meet King Salman's son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to discuss the issue of Hajj Village.

"And the President also told us that the Hajj Village will be followed up. He (Prabowo) will go to Saudi Arabia on January 28-29, after he visited from India and from Pakistan, then to Saudi Arabia. Will discuss first, related to asking for support from Saudi Arabia about the pilgrimage to be held this year," said Wachid.

"Both of them are very concerned about Hajj, that's why Pak Prabowo will meet MBS. That is in order to discuss the issue of Hajj Village and its place, that will be the area that will be given to Indonesia, this will be discussed," continued the member of Commission VIII DPR from the Gerindra Faction.

Wachid explained, Kampung Haji is a special area for pilgrims from Indonesia which includes accommodation or places in Mecca and Medina. This Hajj village is part of improving services for pilgrims.

"We are now our Hajj quota is 221,000. He said it was prepared up to 300,000 to 250,000, that's a building like that, and the location is about 50 minutes. This is very possible not only a place to rest there or a living room there, including this, it was also built for the hospital area. And also a catering place. This was also conveyed by the President yesterday like that," he explained.

"So if the President highlights how much is Mr. Wachid's catering cost? The former 16.5 Riyal, currently 15 Riyals, calculate with that riyal, now it's Rp. 4,250, that's around Rp. 60,000. The President said it was expensive. This is if we can make our own catering at that location. And Indonesian cuisine, try Indonesian flavors, Indonesian tastes, Indonesian services, goods from Indonesian products, it will change. This is the view of the President," he continued.

The president's directive, according to Wachid, must be followed up by the Minister of Religion and the Hajj Organizing Agency. This includes additional requests for Hajj quotas to Saudi Arabia. The President, said Wachid, would directly request an additional quota.

"The President also said that by hearing the aspirations of the public regarding the waiting list that is too long, so the President will also ask for an additional quota. The additional quota is mainly intended for the elderly, prioritizing it to the elderly. Because in our Hajj era there are still 100 years old, some are 95 years old, priority is that. He will ask for an additional quota, that's what was conveyed to us," said Wachid.