One-sidedly Raising The Cost Of Hajj Packages, PKS Legislators Urge Government To Submit Objections To Saudi Arabia

Illustration-Unsplash

JAKARTA - The Indonesian House of Representatives approved an additional budget for the implementation of the regular and special 2022 hajj pilgrimages of IDR 1.5 trillion requested by the Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. This is because there is a recent Saudi Arabian government policy that requires additional fees, such as Arafah Muzdalifah and Mina services or Masyair services.

A member of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Bukhori Yusuf, assessed that the unilateral decision by the Saudi Arabian government to increase the cost of masyair packages for the Hajj pilgrimage in 2022 cannot be ignored.

According to him, the Indonesian government must file an objection letter because the cost of the increase is outside the signed contract.

"We hope that the government will formally express its objections to the Saudi policy of setting an unreasonable price for masyair packages. Moreover, these figures appear after the signing of the contract has been completed," said Bukhori to reporters, Thursday, June 2.

The PKS politician said the letter of objection was to show the government's firm stance in defending its hajj pilgrims.

"It is also a warning to Saudi Arabia to commit to the agreement that has been mutually agreed upon," he said.

Bukhori also asked the Saudi Arabian government to respect countries that consistently help make the Hajj pilgrimage successful. If necessary, other countries that are asked to increase fees also submit their objections to Saudi Arabia.

"The Indonesian government can invite other countries to express their objections collectively, considering that the Masyair package policy also applies to other countries," said Bukhori.

It is known, previously that the Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives finally agreed on a proposal to increase the budget for the regular and special Hajj operational costs for the Hajj pilgrimage in 2022, amounting to IDR 1.5 trillion. The proposal was previously requested by the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

The Minister of Religion said that after the proposal to increase the Hajj budget was agreed upon, his party would continue to communicate with the Saudi Arabian government. Yaqut hopes that this sudden increase in the budget will not happen again.

"In the future, the point is that we will talk to the Saudi government, of course, by inviting several other hajj mission-sending countries so that things like this don't happen again in the future," Yaqut said.