The DPR Commission VIII Working Committee Will Review The Proposal For A Hajj Discount Of IDR 69 Million Per Congregation, Look For A Cost That Can Be Deducted

Ashabul Kahfi/PHOTO: PAN Documentation

The chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR stated that the proposed 2023 Hajj Implementation Fee (BPIH) which rose to IDR 69 million per congregation would be reviewed further by the working committee (Panja). The Panja will look for which components can still be reduced so that the cost of Hajj in 2023 is not too high. "The proposal from the Ministry of Religion will still be studied further by the Commission VIII Working Committee," said Chairman of Commission VIII DPR from the PAN faction, Ashabul Kahfi, Friday, January 20. Kahfi explained that the proposed increase in Hajj deposit funds was a response to several policies by the Saudi Arabian government which raised the prices of several hajj service sectors. In addition, the budget for Hajj funds in the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) also wants to be managed with the principles of justice and sustainability. "Incurring the policy of distributing BPKH's investment profit funds to cover the shortage of Hajj deposits of up to 50 percent, the Ministry of Religion proposes that the distribution of BPKH funds is a maximum of 30 percent, the rest is still borne by the congregation," explained Kahfi. Nevertheless, Kahfi ensured that Commission VIII of the DPR would side with the interests of the people. Not only for prospective pilgrims who will depart, but also for all people whose queues are still long. Panja, he said, would also try to find budget components that could still be reduced. "Believe me, we at Commission VIII continue to side with the people. Not only for those who will depart, but for people whose queues are still long," said the PAN legislator for the South Sulawesi electoral district. Similarly, Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, Ace Hasan Syadzily, said that the cost of Hajj of Rp. 69 million was still a proposal from the Ministry of Religion which would be discussed in more detail at a working meeting at the DPR. "Of course we will discuss in detail in the BPIH Panja in the next Panja meetings," Ace told reporters, Friday, January 20. Ace said the committee meeting of commission VIII would ask for a rational explanation from the government regarding the proposal. Although it can be understood that there are components that are tailored by the Saudi Arabian government. "For us, there must be a rational explanation regarding the proposal. We can understand if adjustments are needed from the price of this year's hajj financing component," said the West Java electoral district Golkar legislator. In addition, said Ace, the committee meeting will also discuss the efficiency of hajj funds ranging from transportation to consumption. So that according to him, the funds borne by prospective pilgrims in the 2023 hajj can be lighter. "We want to determine the value of the education contract, air transportation, consumption, and various other basic components. There is efficiency that can be done, whether the value included is rational or not, and so on," he explained.