Expect 2025 Hajj Fees To Drop, Gerindra Encourages The Waiting Period For Dipangkas Departure

Chairman of the MPR RI and Secretary General of the Gerindra Party, Ahmad Muzani. (Nailin-VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly as well as Secretary General of the Gerindra Party, Ahmad Muzani hopes that the cost of implementing the Hajj in 2025 or 1446 Hijri will decrease compared to last year.

Muzani asked the House of Representatives Commission VIII and the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) to cut the cost of Hajj so that it is cheaper but services for the congregation are also better according to President Prabowo Subianto's wishes.

"Pak Prabowo really wants the Hajj service to run effectively, maximally. Then the waiting period that takes too long can be shortened. Then the sufficient cost, if possible, can be cut even cheaper with better service," said Muzani at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta Monday, January 6.

"That's why he formed a Hajj body, which is meant to provide better services for the congregation. What is meant by better service is better costs with more effective services because it (needs) better coordination," he continued.

Muzani said President Prabowo was very concerned about the hajj issue. The President, he said, continues to monitor developments so that the 2025 Hajj will be better than before.

Muzani also hopes that Commission VIII of the DPR together with the Ministry of Religion including the Hajj Agency will make the best decisions regarding the determination of the Hajj costs that will be carried out this afternoon.

"We have conveyed several views related to pilgrims, the cost of Hajj and several things. Hopefully (costs) for the pilgrims who will come, we hope to go down," he said.

"And even though it goes down ONH, it can also get better Hajj services, more effective Hajj services, both in Mecca, in Medina, including in Arafah, Mustalifah and Mina. Hopefully, the reason will not go down and then the reason will also reduce our services," continued Muzani.

Previously, the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) had re-proposed the Hajj Implementation Fee (BPIH) for 2025 amounting to IDR 89,666,469.26.

"For BPIH, after we studied its rationality, service quality and of course its efficiency, we are currently proposing Rp. 89,666,469.26," said Director General (Dirjen) of Hajj and Umrah Implementation of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) Hilman Latief in a meeting with the Working Committee (Panja) for Hajj Fees Commission VIII DPR, Monday, January 6.

Of the amount of BPIH, the fee charged to each congregation or the 2025 Hajj Travel Fee (Bipih) is IDR 55,593,201.57 or 62 percent of BPIH.

Meanwhile, the fee paid from the value of the benefits was IDR 34,073,267.69 or 38 percent of BPIH. Hilman said the decrease in the budget still refers to the exchange rate of IDR 16,000 and the Riyal of Saudi Arabia amounting to IDR 4,266.67.