Avtur Price Increases, President Prabowo Holds Hajj Expenses

Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto does not want the surge in fuel costs to be charged to increase the cost of the hajj. This was conveyed by Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 8.

According to Dahnil, previously Garuda proposed an increase of around Rp7.9 million per jamaah. Meanwhile, Saudi asked for an additional 480 US dollars per pilgrim, or around Rp8 million. Dahnil said the government is still waiting for the development of force majeure conditions, including from the Saudi Government, while looking at other situations that also affect the cost of the hajj flight.

Despite the cost pressure from the airline, the President still wants the cost of the hajj to fall by Rp2 million. This means that there is no increase in the cost of the hajj that is charged to the congregation. The increase in various components, said Dahnil, will be overcome by the state budget and discussed further with BPKH regarding the management of hajj finances.

The amount of load prepared by the state is estimated to reach IDR 1.77 trillion. This figure is a temporary total of all cost increases that arise due to the surge in avtur and other components. Even so, the government will still recalculate the final value.