Reject Hajj IDR 69 Million, Member Of Commission VIII DPR: Most Prospective Farmers, Fishermen, Traders To Labor

Illustration. Hajj pilgrims from Indonesia are assisted to walk when they arrive in the country. (Doc of the Ministry of Transportation)

Member of Commission VIII DPR Achmad stated that he rejected the plan to increase the cost of the pilgrimage (BPIH) which was charged Rp. 69 million to members of the pilgrims because it would burden the community.

"Rejecting the increase in the amount of Hajj costs due to burdensome hajj candidates," said Achmad in a written statement, Friday, February 3, was confiscated by Antara.

This was conveyed by him during a working visit (kunker) and a meeting with the Working Committee (Panja) Commission VIII of the DPR with the hajj organizers in Saudi Arabia, Thursday, February 2. Kunker was to check directly regarding readiness and ensure ideal estimation of the cost of Hajj.

"Earlier we just finished the Working Committee meeting, a meeting at the Indonesian Embassy in Makkah, which was attended by the Director General of PHU (Director General of Hajj and Umrah), Hajj organizers in Makkah, and Garuda airlines," he said.

Based on the ability of people who wish to perform the pilgrimage, he hopes that the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) can reduce BPIH to below Rp50 million.

Moreover, he continued, most Indonesian pilgrims' economic capabilities from various professional backgrounds were not sufficient if the government decided to increase BPIH by Rp. 69 million.

"We know that most of those who go on pilgrimage from farmers, fishermen, small traders, and workers who have the desire to carry out the obligations of Muslims. However, the sacred intention is hindered by very expensive costs. Actually, this must be considered by the Government, without burdening the community," he said.

According to him, the government must reduce the nominal value of the cost of Hajj without reducing the best service provided to pilgrims.

"The task of the Government is actually like that to make policies that make it easier for the community and have good service," he said.

He explained that the DPR Commission VIII Working Committee proposed to the Ministry of Religion to be able to lower several components of the cost of Hajj. For example, catering costs, airlines, hotel accommodation, and Hajj pilgrims while in Makkah.

"As a result of the Panja earlier, there are five points of agreement that we propose to reduce costs," he said.

For hotel accommodation, he continued, Commission VIII of the DPR proposed a contract of up to 5 years, which was previously only for 1 year.

"So, every year there is an increase, every year you can avoid it because there is already a contract for 5 years. So, Hajj is once a year, the rest can be used for Umrah pilgrims. So, there is no need to bother anymore," he said.

For the cost component related to the time of the pilgrims during the time in Mecca, he previously said that the pilgrims were in Makkah for 40 days, to 30 days or 35 days.

"If the time is reduced, for example, for up to 30 days or consider 35 days, it will not be bad enough to reduce the operational costs of the pilgrims. Likewise, hotels must find hotels closer to the Mosque and the cost of accommodation can be reduced," he said.

Therefore, by observing the reduction in a number of cost components, according to him, this will have an impact on reducing the cost of Hajj so that it will not burden the community.

"Muslims go to the Holy Land, to the Holy Land on the pilgrimage, the screams of pilgrims, as well as the screams of members of the DPR RI," he said in a rhyme.

Previously, in a working meeting with Commission VIII DPR RI, Thursday, January 19, the Ministry of Religion proposed that the BPIH average in 2023 or 1444 Hijri be IDR 98.89 million per congregation.

Of this amount, the costs that need to be borne by prospective hajj are 70 percent or IDR 69.19 million per person. Meanwhile, the remaining 30 percent or IDR 29.7 million is paid out of the value of the benefits of managing hajj funds.

"This proposal is based on the consideration of fulfilling the principles of justice and the sustainability of hajj funds. This formulation has gone through a study process," said Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.