The Cost Of Hajj In 2023 Is IDR 69.1 Million, Member Of The House Of Representatives: Shocked, High Once Must Be Borne

Member of Commission VIII DPR RI MF Nurhuda Yusro. Photo: Nailin In Saroh (VOI.id)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) proposes changing the cost of Hajj in 2023 to IDR 69.1 million per congregation, which means that it has doubled compared to the previous year. Member of Commission VIII from the PKB Faction MF Nurhuda Yusro admitted that he was surprised to hear the suggestion of the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, which increased the cost of Hajj Travel (Gipiah) during yesterday's working meeting.

"Frankly, yesterday we were all surprised to hear the explanation of the Minister of Religion's proposal. Because it is very high that prospective pilgrims have to bear," said Nurhuda when confirmed, Friday, January 20.

Nevertheless, Nurhuda assessed that the reason for Minister of Religion Yaqut to increase the cost of Hajj in 2023 was quite rational. In particular, the reasons for fulfilling the principles of justice and the sustainability of hajj funds in the future.

Where the Minister of Religion said, the proposed increase in costs was hajj to maintain the principles of istithaah and liquidity in the implementation of the pilgrimage in the following years.

Istithaah, the ability to carry out worship. Meanwhile, liquidity due to BPKH funds (Hajj Financial Management Agency) continues to be eroded due to the use of higher benefit values than Bipih," explained Nurhuda. Even so, the Central Java electoral district legislator regretted that BPKH funds were being eroded. According to him, if this continues, it will burden prospective pilgrims in the future.

"We have also reviewed Commission VIII for a long time. If it continues like this, BPKH has not been able to dispatch prospective pilgrims in the future," said Nurhuda. Previously, Minister of Religion Yaqut proposed the 2023 hajj fee of Rp. 69,193,733.60. This amount is 70 percent of the proposed average Hajj Implementation Fee (BPIH) which reached Rp. 98,893,909.11.Yaqut explained, BPIH 2022 was Rp. 98,379,021.09 with a Bipish composition of Rp. 39,886,009.00 or 40.54 percent and an optimization value of Rp. 58,493,012.09 59.46 percent.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religion's proposal for BPIH 2023 is IDR 98,893,909.11 with a composition of IDR 69,193,734.00 70 percent and an optimization value of IDR 29,700,175.11 30 percent.

The components charged directly to the congregation are used to pay for six things. First, the flight costs from the embarration to Saudi Arabia (PP) amounted to Rp33,979,784.00. Second, the accommodation for Makkah Rp18,768,000.00, third for Medina's accommodation Rp5,601,840.00. Fourth, the cost of living costs Rp4,080,000.00, fifth, Visa Rp1,224,000.00. Sixth, the Masyair service package is Rp5,540,109.60. That's the government's proposal. According to us, it is the most logical to keep the BPKH's existing at BPKH from being eroded, yes with such a composition. So the benefit fund is reduced, only 30 percent remains, while 70 percent becomes the responsibility of the congregation, said Yaqut in his statement, Friday, January 20. According to Yaqut, this policy was taken by the government to formulate BPIH in order to balance the amount of burden on the congregation and the continuity of future benefit value funds. He assessed that BPIH's loading should prioritize the principle of justice. Such formulation, his claim, has also gone through a study process. "The collection of BPIH must put forward the principle of istitha'ah and liquidity in the implementation of hajj services in the following years," said Yaqut.

"In addition to maintaining it (BPKH), the second is also a matter of istitha'ah, the ability to carry out worship. Right, there are conditions if you can afford it. Hajj is if you can afford it. This ability must be measured, we measure it at that value," he added.