Press Hajj Fees, PKB Legislators Ask For Inefficient Expenditures To Be Crossed Out

UNSPLASH/Yusup rachman ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Member of Commission VIII DPR from the PKB faction, An'im Falachuddin, asked for inefficient spending in the implementation of the pilgrimage to be crossed out. This was done as an effort to reduce the cost of the 2025 Hajj which rose to Rp65.3 million per congregation.

An'im assessed that there are several financing that can be reduced so that the 2025 hajj costs can go down. For example, reducing flight costs as much as possible so that it is cheaper without reducing the quality of the aircraft that will be used to accommodate pilgrims to the holy land.

"I think it should be discussed further so that flight costs and accommodation are cheaper for further steps," said An'im, Friday, January 3.

In addition to the flight fee post, Anim said, expenses or catering can also be streamlined without reducing quality.

The main thing is that congregational catering must meet nutritional adequacy and hygiene and can be consumed by elderly pilgrims who have certain needs.

"Catering can also be suppressed again in price but does not reduce quality," he said.

An'im said the PKB faction agreed that the financing issued by the Hajj pilgrims was 60 percent, while financing from the value of the benefits was 40 percent.

"If possible 50: 50 for the costs incurred by the pilgrims and expenditure from the value of the benefits," he said.

According to him, the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) must be able to make breakthroughs related to hajj financing so that in the long term the cost of Hajj does not burden Indonesian pilgrims.

"BPKH is separated from the Ministry of Religion to be able to provide investment but the results have not yet been seen," said Gus An'im.

In addition, said An'im, the cost that can also be reduced is to minimize the implementation of rituals by the Ministry of Religion to pilgrims. This is because the Hajj and Umrah Guidance Group (KBIHU) often performs Hajj rituals, not even just ahead of departure but routinely carried out several months earlier.

According to An'im, the Hajj rituals carried out by the Ministry of Religion should also be given to reserve pilgrims who often do not have time to follow the implementation of Hajj rituals due to sudden departure notices.

"At least when there is a hajj call, even though it is reserve, it is still carried out by providing rituals activities," he said.

As is known, the Ministry of Religion proposes the cost of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage borne by pilgrims of IDR 65,372,779.49 (IDR 65.3 million). This amount increased by around IDR 9 million compared to the 2024 Hajj fee of IDR 56 million.

Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar detailed that the increase in the cost of Hajj borne by the congregation came from the 2025 Hajj Organizers (BPIH) of IDR 93,389,684.99 (IDR 93.4 million) million, minus the value of the benefits proposed by the congregation of IDR 28,016,905.5 (IDR 28 million) or 30 percent of the total BPIH.