Ministry Of Religion: Increase In Hajj Costs To IDR 45 Million Still A Proposal

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

MATARAM - The Office of the Ministry of Religion of the City of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara said that an increase in the cost of organizing the pilgrimage (BPIH) of Rp. 45 million was still a proposal.

"The increase in the BPIH is still a proposal, we hope the congregation is calm and we also don't have the courage to inform prospective hajj pilgrims before an official letter is issued," said Head of the Mataram City Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) HM Amin in Mataram as reported by Antara, Monday, February 21.

The statement was conveyed in response to a statement from the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas who proposed the 2022 BPIH to increase to Rp. health (pros).

According to Amin, so far the increase in BPIH is still limited to information in the mass media and no official written information has been received.

"Before there was black and white, we were not able to disseminate information to prospective hajj pilgrims," he said.

Therefore, when his party has received official information on the increase in BPIH, then his party has a strong reference to provide information on prospective pilgrims, especially for 2020 Hajj candidates whose departures have been postponed twice.

"If there is an official circular, we are ready to move. Including the quota for the 2022 hajj pilgrims because the departure information is still waiting for the quota from Saudi Arabia," he said.

Data from the Mataram Ministry of Religion stated that the quota for pilgrims from Mataram City for the 1441 Hijri/2020 hajj season was 741 people, and at that time they had paid off the BPIH of IDR 37,332,602 for the Lombok Embarkation according to government regulations at the time.

However, Amin continued, with the policy of increasing the BPIH, it is possible that there will be additional costs that must be carried out by the congregation.

"If we get a quota for Hajj departures this year, the pilgrims who will depart are candidates for Hajj in 2020 and pay off the BPIH according to the provisions. Otherwise, their departure will be postponed to the following year," he said.