NasDem: Increased Hajj Costs 2025 Becomes A Heavy Public Burden

UNSPLASH/mubin bold ILLUSTRATION

Chairman of the NasDem Party faction group (Kapoksi) Commission VIII of the House of Representatives Wahidin Halim highlighted the issue of increasing the cost of Hajj 2025 from IDR 53 million to IDR 65 million per congregation. According to him, this increase is increasing the burden on the community, in the midst of an economic situation that has not improved.

Before there was a proposal for an increase from the government, Wahidin revealed, the public had complained that it was difficult to collect the costs of Hajj, especially those aged. Therefore, according to him, the increase will certainly be even more burdensome for prospective pilgrims.

Many people had previously relied on selling land for Hajj costs, but now the land is not selling well. They told us that this increase was a heavy burden. However, the enthusiasm of the people to go for Hajj remains extraordinary, "said Wahidin, in his statement Tuesday, December 31.

The NasDem legislator from the Banten III electoral district urged the government to consider the best solution so that the cost of Hajj is more affordable without reducing service quality.

Regarding services, Wahidin assessed, the readiness of supporting facilities such as hajj dormitories is very important to support the smooth running of congregational services. He asked the Ministry of Religion to ensure the readiness of dormitories and improve service quality.

Wahidin then highlighted the condition of the Tangerang Hajj Dormitory which was not yet optimal even though its construction cost Rp60 billion.

"There are findings from the BPK regarding the corruption case of Rp. 3 billion which has not yet been returned. However, our main concern is how to ensure that this dormitory can be utilized optimally this year," he said.

Wahidin also appreciated the implementation of the previous year's Hajj which was considered quite good even though there were still some shortcomings.

Hajj implementation must be better every year. This is not only a matter of budget, but also how the government plays the role of providing the best service for pilgrims," he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) proposed a Hajj fee of 1446 Hijri/2025 AD of IDR 65.3 million per congregation. For the hajj quota, Indonesia gets 221,000 quotas in the hajj season next year.

"For the year 1446 H/2025 AD, the government proposed an average BPIH per pilgrim of Rp93,386,684.99 with a composition of BIPIH of Rp65,372,779.49 or 70 percent and the value of the benefits was Rp28,016,905.5 or 30 percent," said Minister of Religion, Nasaruddin Umar in a meeting with Commission VIII DPR, Monday, December 30.

"The components charged directly to the hajj pilgrims using the basic assumption above, the Government proposes the average cost of the year's BIPIH amount of Rp65,372,779.49," he continued.

The hajj cost component includes flight costs from thembarkation to Saudi Arabia (PP) amounting to Rp 34,386,390.68, Makkah accommodation Rp 15,232,011.90, Medina accommodation Rp 4,454,403.48, living cost Rp 3,200,002.50, community service packages (partially) amounting to Rp 8,099,970.94.

"So, the hajj flight cost component is prepared permbarkation by taking into account the distance from each embarkation to Saudi Arabia. Then, the government considers the principle of efficiency and effectiveness in determining the BPIH component, so that the implementation of the pilgrimage can be carried out properly, at a reasonable cost," said Nasaruddin.