Regarding The Proposal Of Upgrading Hajj Fee To IDR 69 Million, The Ministry Of Religion: There Is Absolutely No Intention Of Weighting Candidates

Illustration of pilgrims from Indonesia performing worship at the departure of 2022. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Director General (Dirjen) for the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) Hilman Latief said the amount of tariffs for Hajj or BPIH 2023 was still being discussed by the government.

"We are still looking for solutions and mutual rationalization. We must have empathy and sympathy for how we have fair and sustainable hajj financing for all queues of Indonesian pilgrims. The Ministry of Religion has absolutely no intention of burdening prospective pilgrims," Hilman said in Jakarta, Tuesday, January 24, quoted by Antara.

The Ministry of Religion proposes an average tariff for Hajj or BPIH 2023 of IDR 69 million. This amount is 70 percent of the BPIH average proposal which reaches IDR 98 million, while the rest uses the value of the benefits of the hajj funds managed by BPKH.

According to him, high BPIH requires rationalization from Bipih and value benefits. In a meeting with Commission VIII of the DPR, the Ministry of Religion proposed a scheme of 70 percent Bipih and 30 percent of the value of benefits.

"With very high cost and value, rationalization is needed. We must be able to offer normal financing," he said.

However, the proposed scheme will be discussed again with Commission VIII of the DPR RI to find a middle ground. The Ministry of Religion wants the cost of Hajj to be accepted by all parties for the sustainability of hajj funds.

"We will discuss how the rationalization of Hajj can be done so that the increase in the cost of Hajj as happened in 2022 can be anticipated earlier. The concept of Hajj is istithaah or someone who has financial provisions," he said.

Previously, the government proposed a pilgrimage or Bipih trip fee in 2023 of IDR 69,193,733. Bipih is a cost component paid by pilgrims.

The amount proposed this year is 70 percent of the total cost of organizing the Hajj (BPIH) which reaches IDR 98,893,909. The remaining 30 percent or IDR 29,700,175 is taken from the value of the benefits of managing the hajj funds.