The Government Begins to Prepare for Hajj 2027, the 60:40 Cost Scheme is Re-Proposed

JAKARTA - The government has begun preparing for the 2027 Hajj or 1448 Hijriah, including proposing a financing scheme with a composition of 60 percent of the value of the Hajj fund benefits and 40 percent of the Hajj Travel Fee (Bipih) paid by pilgrims.

Deputy for Partnerships and Media Relations of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) RI Kurnia Ramadhana said preparations were made early so that all stages of the haj could run according to the schedule set by the Saudi government.

"Preparations for the implementation of the 1448 Hijriah/2027 AD Hajj have begun since now, including the preparation of a timeline of stages that follow the schedule of the Saudi government, as well as the preparation of the BPIH proposal and its details which we have submitted to the DPR RI," said Kurnia in a press conference in Jakarta, Wednesday, July 15.

According to Kurnia, the government again proposed a composition of haj financing of 60 percent of the value of benefits from the management of haj funds by the Hajj Finance Management Agency (BPKH) and 40 percent of the Bipih paid by pilgrims. The scheme is considered capable of maintaining that the costs incurred by prospective pilgrims remain affordable amid the increasing cost of haj services in Saudi Arabia.

"This will ease the real burden of the pilgrims and anticipate a surge in service costs in Saudi Arabia," he said.

In addition to preparing a financing scheme, the government has also begun to formulate various strategic steps to improve the quality of the 2027 Hajj. These preparations include planning based on quota assumptions, strengthening the examination of health istithaah, drafting a funding scheme for the lack of flight costs, accelerating negotiations with Hajj service providers (syarikah), to accelerating the transfer of State-owned Assets (BMN) assets that support Hajj operations.

The government will also tighten the examination of health eligibility or istithaah for prospective pilgrims to reduce the number of illnesses and deaths while in the Holy Land. At the same time, the training of Hajj officers at the central and regional levels will be strengthened so that services to pilgrims are more optimal.

"The examination of the health eligibility of pilgrims (istithaah) will be tightened to reduce the number of injuries and deaths of pilgrims in the Holy Land," said Kurnia.

Furthermore, the government is committed to improving health services in Saudi Arabia, improving the governance of animal slaughter and dam, as well as improving the quality of accommodation, transportation, and consumption services for pilgrims.

The improvement of service governance at Mina will also continue through the optimization of the use of Hajj quotas and the procurement process of more efficient, transparent, and accountable services.

"These steps are part of the government's commitment to continue to provide a Hajj that is increasingly safe, comfortable, and oriented towards the needs of the congregation," concluded Kurnia.