Commission VIII of the DPR and the Minister of Religion Agree that the 2023 Hajj Fee will be Paid in the amount of IDR 49.8 Million per Pilgrim

The DPR Commission VIII Working Meeting with the Ministry of Religion, Ministry of Health, Head of BPKH, and President Director of PT Saudia Airlines, Wednesday, February 15, 2023/PHOTO: Nailin In Saroh-VOI

JAKARTA - The leadership of House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VIII together with the Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas agreed that the cost of organizing the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage (BPIH) is set at IDR 49,812,700 or IDR 49.8 million per congregation.

This decision was taken after the Committee VIII Commission of the DPR and the government together with related parties held a marathon meeting to reduce the haj cost component which was originally proposed to be IDR 69 million down to IDR 49.8 million per pilgrim.

"Commission VIII agreed that the average amount of BPIH 2023 per congregation is IDR 90,050,637. Meanwhile, the Bipih that is borne by the congregation is IDR 49,812,700 or 55.3 per cent", said the Chairman of the Committee for Hajj Commission VIII DPR, Marwan Dasopang, in a joint working meeting with the Minister of Religion at the DPR building, Senayan, Wednesday, February 15.

"The costs derived from the average benefit value per congregation are IDR 40,237,937 or 44.7 per cent. Overall the value of the benefits used is IDR 8,090,360,327,213", he continued.

The Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, stated that the government and the DPR had agreed on the amount of BPIH which consists of Bipih and the amount of the value of the benefits.

"We agree that BPIH 1444H for regular pilgrims per congregation is IDR 90,050,637.26. This amount consists of two components, namely Bipih, which averages IDR 49,812,700.26", said Minister of Religion Yaqut.

"Alhamdulillah, it was agreed that the delay paid congregation does not need to add costs, therefore a benefit value of IDR 8,090,360,327,213.67 or IDR 8.09 trillion is needed", he added.

Previously, in a hearing (RDP) with Commission VIII of the DPR, the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Management (PHU) of the Ministry of Religion, Hilman Latief, said that prospective pilgrims for 2023 were required to pay and pay off a fee of IDR 49.8 million.

Hilman explained the total amount of BPIH is around IDR 90 million. Meanwhile, the Hajj Travel Expenses (Bipih) that must be borne by the pilgrims are still in the range of IDR 49 million.

"After we have combined the latest figures and the services provided for this year, the BPIH fee formulated by the government is IDR 90,050,637.26", said Hilman in his presentation, Wednesday, February 15.

Meanwhile, the amount of Bipih that will be borne by the pilgrims in 2023 is IDR 49.8 million. Hilman said the proportion of the figure borne by the pilgrims was 55.3 per cent of the total BPIH costs.

"Those are the results of a study conducted by the government on the costs of this pilgrimage. If we formulate the Bipih, God willing, we see that the congregation paid this year 49,812,700.26 or 55.3 per cent", said Hilman.

Meanwhile, Hilman said, the value of benefits or subsidies issued to each congregation was IDR 40.2 million.

"And the value of the benefits that will be used is IDR 40,237,937 or 44.7 per cent", he explained.

Initially, the Indonesian Ministry of Religion had proposed BPIH 1444 Hijriah/2023 AD to be IDR 98.89 million per congregation, an increase of IDR 514.88,000 compared to last year.

Of this amount, the costs that need to be borne by the congregation (Bipih) reach 70 per cent or IDR 69.19 million per person. Meanwhile, the remaining 30 per cent or IDR 29.7 million is paid from the value of the benefits of managing the Hajj funds.

However, in a meeting some time ago, the Indonesian Ministry of Religion lowered the proposal for the 2023 BPIH simulation, which was originally IDR 98.8 million to IDR 96.4 million. That way, the proposed pilgrimage costs fell by IDR 2.4 million.

At the last meeting, the DPR's Commission VIII said it had succeeded in reducing the 2023 BPIH proposal from IDR 98.8 million to IDR 90.2 million. So that the Bipih paid per congregation is still in the range of IDR 49 million or to be precise IDR 49.8 million or 55.2 per cent with a benefit value of IDR 40.4 million or 44.8 per cent.

Photo: DPR RI Commission VIII Working Meeting with Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Wednesday, February 15, evening. Photo: Nailin In Saroh/VOI