The IDR 45 Million Hajj Fee Proposed By The Minister Of Religion Of Yaqut Can Still Change In The Hands Of The House of Representatives

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JAKARTA - Commission VIII of the House of Representatives will study the proposal of the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas who asked for the cost of Hajj 1443 Hijriah/2022 AD amounting to IDR 45 million per congregation. This figure increased from the previous year, which was IDR 44.3 million.

Deputy Chairperson of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) from Golkar Party Faction, Ace Hasan Syadzily, said the increase in the cost of the pilgrimage would be discussed in the Committee for Hajj Travel Expenses (BPIH).

"The Ministry of Religion's proposal regarding the 2022 Hajj fee to increase to Rp45 million will be reviewed in the BPIH Panja which I lead at Commission VIII," said Ace, Friday, February 18.

Ace said that the proposal of Minister of Religion Yaqut regarding the cost of hajj could undergo changes after careful discussion so that it could be determined efficiently.

"The Minister of Religion's proposal could also change after we discussed and reviewed it. We will discuss it carefully so that the amount of the Hajj fee can be determined as efficiently as possible by taking into account the current price adjustments, both in Saudi Arabia and in our country," he said. Ace.

In addition, Ace said, his party will also discuss the cost of optimizing the hajj managed funds.

"We will also discuss how much the optimization cost of the managed Hajj funds will be in the cost of organizing this year's Hajj," he said.

In discussing the costs, continued Ace, the BPIH Panja will invite related parties to ensure that the fees set are appropriate. Some of what will be heard is related to accommodation, consumption to health needs.

"Panja BPIH of Commission VIII will determine the cost of this Hajj after listening to the airlines, accommodation, consumption, transportation while in Saudi Arabia, and especially health needs," he said.

The Golkar politician reminded that currently Indonesia is still facing the COVID-19 pandemic. So according to him, health costs for quarantine and masks need to be budgeted.

"We know that we are currently still facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, various health financing in the context of preventing COVID-19 must be budgeted for, such as PCR, quarantine, masks and others," said Ace.