DPR: Government Announces 2022 Hajj Fees Tonight

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) will announce the determination of the 2022 Hajj Implementation Fee (BPIH) tonight.

This was conveyed by the Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR Yandri Susanto at the DPR building, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 13. Yandri said the cost of this year's hajj would be discussed first in a working meeting with the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

Regarding the cost of Hajj or BPIH 2022, Yandri asserted, the government is trying to set it at less than Rp. 40 million and above Rp. 35 million. This is so as not to burden the pilgrims who have been waiting for the opening of the Hajj for up to two years.

"This means that the Rp35 million they have paid so far is enough, we don't want to burden the prospective hajj pilgrims. Because they have waited a long time, especially in the midst of a pandemic," said Yandri.

According to him, the PCR policy required by the Saudi Arabian government will be charged to the government's state budget of Rp. 84 billion.

"One more obligation for PCR 72 hours before departure, we charge the state budget around Rp. 84 billion, we charge it to the government. That's part of the way we don't burden the congregation," he said.

The PAN politician also said that there were 50,630 prospective hajj pilgrims who were on the waiting list for the 2020 hajj which will depart this year. According to him, the 50,000 calhaj have been classified by age with a maximum limit of 65 years.

"We have data that there are 50,630 prospective pilgrims on the 2020 waiting list that we will depart in 2022, they are over 65 years old or equal to 65 years old. This is not what Indonesia, the government and the DPR want, but a policy from Saudi that cannot be negotiated ," said Yandri.

Regarding the hajj quota, his party is optimistic that Indonesia will get a quota of 50 percent of the initial quota of 210,000. If it is 50 percent, then Indonesia will get a quota of 104,000-106,000 pilgrims.

"Although there is no official yet, but informally based on discussions, including going there twice, God willing, we will get 50 percent of the initial quota. The reference is to 106,000 with a total stay in Medina and Mecca of 40 days," he said.