President Tahan Ongkos Haji, the State Prepared Rp.1.77 Trillion to Cover the Increase in Avtur

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak

JAKARTA - The increase in jet fuel prices has begun to put pressure on the cost of the hajj flight. Garuda Indonesia and Saudia have submitted additional costs per pilgrim. However, President Prabowo Subianto decided that the surge should not be imposed on pilgrims.

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said Garuda proposed an increase of around Rp7.9 million per pilgrim. Meanwhile, Saudia asked for an additional 480 US dollars per pilgrim, or around Rp8 million.

"The President's decision orders us that it must not be imposed on the congregation," Dahnil told reporters at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 8.

According to Dahnil, the government is still waiting for the development of force majeure conditions, including from the Saudi Government, while looking at other situations that also affect the cost of the hajj flight.

Despite the cost pressure from the airline, the President still wants the cost of the hajj to fall by Rp2 million. This means that there is no increase in the cost of the hajj that is charged to the congregation. The increase in various components, said Dahnil, will be overcome by the state budget and discussed further with BPKH regarding the management of hajj finances.

The amount of load prepared by the state is estimated to reach IDR 1.77 trillion. This figure is a temporary total of all cost increases that arise due to the surge in avtur and other components. Even so, the government will still recalculate the final value.

"If the total of all these increases is added up, the total must be borne by the state budget of around Rp. 1.77 trillion. We will see the calculation again," said Dahnil.

Regarding the mechanism for distributing the budget, the government has not opened the details. Dahnil only mentioned that further technical discussions would be carried out.