The Hajj Financial Management Agency Suggests Not To Increase The 2022 Hajj Costs

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) recommends that the cost of pilgrimage travel (Bipih) in 1443H/2022 does not increase. The BPKH asked Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) to participate in proposing that Bipih not increase this year.

The Ministry of Religion previously proposed that the cost of performing this year's pilgrimage would increase to IDR 42 million per congregation.

In a joint hearing with Commission VIII of the DPR, Head of the BPKH Anggito Abimanyu, explained that the budget prepared for the management of the pilgrimage was IDR 156.233 trillion. This amount is the same as last year because the money is not used.

Anggito hopes that this year Indonesia will be able to send pilgrims to the holy land so that the management funds do not increase.

"This year it is hoped that there will be 100 percent hajj departures, otherwise the management funds will be higher," said Anggito Abimanyu during a meeting at the DPR building, Monday, March 21.

BPKH also asked Commission VIII of the DPR and the Ministry of Religion to ensure the number of hajj quotas so that the funding needs can be determined immediately. He suggested that the cost of this year's hajj trip should not increase.

"BPKH recommends that Commission VIII can facilitate the certainty of hajj quotas, also suggest that the cost of hajj travel does not increase, Bipih can be adjusted, the contribution of the state budget in the process, and negotiations on tax deferrals," he said.

In addition, Anggito said that his party had not received confirmation from the Ministry of Religion's Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) regarding the number of Hajj travel costs (Bipih). Regarding the Hajj subsidy, he explained, it had increased in 2016 and the subsidy was balanced with Bipih in 2019.

"In 2013 the portion of the subsidy was much smaller (IDR 13.9 million) than the Bipih (IDR 33.9 million). In 2016, the portion of the Bipih was fixed (IDR 34.6 million) but the subsidy was added quite large (IDR 25.4 million). Then in 2019, it was balanced between subsidies and Bipih (IDR 35.4 million and IDR 35.2 million), the burden of the congregation and fixed subsidies. In 2022, we just heard about the Bipih plan," he explained.

However, Anggito said that his party had not yet received a document from the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) regarding the Bipih draft.

"To be honest, we haven't received the documents from PHU. They haven't given them. We're just waiting on what the Ministry of Religion's policy will be and what direction from Commission VIII we will fulfill. From finances, God willing, we will fulfill it," he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) proposed a new tariff for Hajj Travel Costs (Bipih) for 1443H/2022M, which was IDR 42 million. Even so, the Ministry of Religion did not deny that the price of the hajj fee could be lower than IDR 42 million.

"Hopefully, it can be (lower than IDR 42 million). God willing, it's just a matter of looking at the price of aircraft accessories or fuel, whether they are stable or not because of the global situation," said Director General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) at the Ministry of Religion Hilman Latief, Wednesday, 16 March.

Hilman said that currently, his party was still comparing the cost of hajj with the years before the pandemic.

"We are still comparing the prices (of the Hajj components) in 2019 and 2022, whether they are the same or not," he continued.