Regarding Opportunities For Hajj 2025 Fees To Drop, Deputy Minister Of Religion: Many Costs Can Be Rationalized

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

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Religion (Wamenag) Muhammad Syafii conveyed that President Prabowo Subianto's directive regarding the implementation of Hajj in 2025 is expected to be of higher quality at a lower cost.

Syafii said that the President saw a number of costs in the implementation of hajj that could be rationalized, so that this efficiency could improve service quality while reducing costs to cheaper.

"In accordance with what the Minister of Religion said [Nasaruddin Umar], basically our President, Pak Haji Prabowo Subianto, wants Hajj this year [2025] to be of higher quality. But, at the same time he also sees a lot of costs that can be rationalized, so the quality is getting better, but the price is getting cheaper," said Syafii at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Friday.

Syafii said the decline in the cost of Hajj would almost certainly occur. However, the amount of the decline has not been announced, because it is still waiting for the DPR's working committee (Panja) decision.

"On December 30s, the meeting for the formation of the committee was held. Only after that was the committee meeting. That's where it was decided how much the Hajj costs were. But, we almost make sure, Mr. Minister, the cost of this year's Hajj is down. How much? That can't be called now, because there must be an agreement in the Panja," said Syafii.

Minister of Religion Nasaruddin added that efforts to reduce the cost of Hajj also took into account external factors, such as inflation and currency exchange rates.

In addition, cleaning steps against various irregularities in the previous Hajj management are also expected to contribute to reducing costs.

"What is clear is that our spirit wants to be cheaper, reach the community through the efficiency we do. Therefore, through cleaning up all deviant things, it will also contribute to price reduction," said Nasaruddin.

Regarding improving the quality of Hajj services, the Minister of Religion said that one of the efforts made was to ensure that the Hajj officers on duty really worked professionally.

He emphasized that negative records related to Hajj officers at the previous Hajj should not be repeated.

"We don't want it to be like last year there were notes that were complained that the Hajj guide was actually assisted by the congregation. This is not the case. We will. Anyway, the guide, the assistant really has to be devoted to saving prospective pilgrims from various problems," said Nasaruddin.