DPR Presses 2024 Hajj Pilgrims' Costs, Hajj Organizers Give Appreciation

Illustration of pilgrims from Indonesia carrying out worship at departure 2022. (ANTARA)aa

JAKARTA - The DPR has succeeded in helping the process of suppressing the cost of Hajj for pilgrims in 2024. The cost of Hajj must be made light because many pilgrims have difficulty fulfilling it.

As is known, Commission VIII of the DPR RI has officially succeeded in reducing the Travel Cost of Hajj (Bipih) or the costs paid directly by the pilgrims. With an average per congregation of Rp 56,046,172 or 60 percent which includes flight costs, accommodation in Mecca, parts of Medina accommodation, living costs and visa costs.

Meanwhile, BPIH's average suggestion for 1445 H or 2024 per congregation for regular pilgrims is IDR 93,410,286.07, among others, namely the costs sourced from the average value of Hajj financial benefits per congregation of IDR 37,364,114.

This is one of the important points in the working meeting of Commission VIII DPR RI with the Minister of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia Yaqut Cholil Qoumas when agreeing on the basic assumptions of the Cost of Organizing Hajj in 1445 H/2024 at the Nusantara II Building of the DPR RI, last Monday 27 November.

This effort to suppress the cost of Hajj was appreciated by one of the organizers of the Hajj and Umrah, A. Sadat Kadar Usman. For him, the cost of Hajj for the congregation should have been made lighter. Although he realized that there was indeed an increase from the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

"If we look at the government's hajj side, it should be made easier and easier for the people of Indonesia. Even though there is an increase from the Saudi government, it must be studied again. So it does not necessarily increase the cost of Hajj," said Usman when contacted, Monday, December 11.

Even so, he said ideal hajj costs were below Rp million. Because, he sees that there are still many pilgrims who have the ability to pay for it at that point.

"Ideally, it should be under 50 million, yes. Yes, the range is among 35-50 million. Because I think a lot of the 26-30 million are still capable," he said.

As for the preparation of the Hajj, he also appreciated the government. Because the current Hajj service is quite good. However, he saw that the obstacles did come from vendors in Saudi Arabia.

"From a government point of view, it is good to prepare it. The problem is from Saudi itself. I see that from year to year it is better," he said.

"Pay more attention in terms of buses, tents," he continued.

He said that from the start the cost of Hajj should be recalculated. This is because there are several variables for the cost of Hajj that can still be reduced again. However, he appreciated the performance of the DPR in reducing this cost.

"From the start I said it should be recalculated. So that there are variables that can be suppressed again. It is feared that there are interests as well. Actually, the DPR itself has seen and tried to suppress the current figure," he explained.

Appreciation was also conveyed by Solahudin (65) who is a candidate for the 2024 Hajj pilgrims. He is a pilgrim who has registered since December 2012. At that time, he deposited money amounting to Rp 25.5 million.

"Initially it was Rp. 105 million from the Ministry of Religion before the DPR. But after the DPR dropped to Rp. 94 million. Then finally it became 56 million," said Solahudin.

He considered that the cost of this pilgrimage was still large in value. However, according to him, this is back to the congregation itself.

"From the value, it is quite large. But all of that goes back to the congregation. Moreover, the legal nature of the hajj is not absolutely mandatory," he said.

He also hopes that next year's Hajj service will be better. He wants the Hajj pilgrims to be very well cared for.

"Right now, it's different from the 80s. In the past, registration was once a year. Now the registration is open continuously. I hope personally, because first I wait a long time and the cost is quite expensive. We hope to really pay attention to the maximum worship," he said.

Meanwhile, Hajj observer Fadhli Arsil assessed that the emphasis on the cost of this pilgrimage was necessary. Because, at this time the economic condition of the community is not good. This is something you need to think about.

"In the current conditions, the economy, purchasing power is lower than before. I think we have to pay attention to this. So that the government as the organizer of the hajj can think about this so that all pilgrims can leave," he said.

He revealed data about pilgrims who could not pay the cost of Hajj. As a result, these pilgrims cannot continue to be able to go for Hajj.

"I saw that there was data from the Hajj organizers that about 15% could not pay off ONH, so they could not go for Hajj," he said.