AMPHURI: Wacana 'War Ticket' Haji Perlu Kajian Mendalam

JAKARTA - The Association of Muslim Hajj and Umrah Organizers of the Republic of Indonesia (AMPHURI) considers the discourse on the implementation of the war ticket mechanism for Hajj as part of an effort to find a solution to the long line of Hajj in Indonesia, but it needs to be studied comprehensively.

"In principle, we always support every positive effort and program of the government. However, every public policy, especially those related to worship and millions of people, needs to be studied in depth so that it remains in line with the principles of justice, legal certainty, and the welfare of the community," said Secretary General of AMPHURI Zaky Zakaria in Jakarta, Antara, Monday, April 13.

Zaky said the idea of a war ticket for the hajj could be seen as a form of ijtihad of policy in the complex management of the hajj. However, its implementation must refer to the mandate of Law Number 14 of 2025 which emphasizes fair, orderly, and civilized services.

He explained that the concept of the war ticket for Hajj in general leads to a mechanism where the government sets the program and package prices, then eligible pilgrims can directly participate in the selection based on "who is fast, he can" or a competitive scheme. Even so, the technical details of the policy are still unclear.

Zaky also clarified the assumption that the long queue for Hajj was caused by the existence of the Hajj Finance Management Agency (BPKH). He emphasized that the queue had occurred long before the institution operated.

According to him, long queues have emerged since 2009-2013, even the initial deposit system for registration has started since 1999. Meanwhile, BPKH only became effective in 2017 based on Law Number 34 of 2014 concerning the Management of the Hajj Finance.

"This means that the queue is not caused by BPKH, but by structural factors," said Zaky.

He assessed that the root of the problem of the haj queue was structural, including limited quotas based on global policies, the growth of the Muslim population which is not proportional to the quota, increasing interest in the haj, and increasing people's purchasing power.

AMPHURI provides critical notes regarding the war ticket for the hajj, especially the potential loss of a sense of justice for millions of prospective hajj participants who have been waiting for decades. In addition, the scheme is considered potentially difficult for the poor and trigger social unrest.

From the financial side, the change of the system will also have an impact on the haj management fund, which currently reaches around Rp. 170 trillion in BPKH, so that clarity is needed on the mechanism if the queue is removed.

As a solution, AMPHURI proposed several alternatives, such as the utilization of the annual quota as a pilot project, the use of additional quotas, and the implementation of a dual system between regular queue-based Hajj and a non-queue-based ability-based program.

"The idea of a war ticket for the hajj is an idea that should be appreciated as part of the effort to find a solution. However, its implementation must be carried out carefully, based on data, there must be adjustments to the Hajj Law, and not ignore the principles of justice and sustainability of the system," he said.