Get ready for Pilgrim Candidates, Hajj 2023 Fees Will Be Determined This Afternoon

Photo byukmer F. Arslan on Unsplash

JAKARTA - The DPR and the Government, represented by the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) will determine the cost of the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage this afternoon. This decision will be taken after Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Ministry of Religion held a meeting to determine the 2023 Hajj Pilgrimage Costs (BPIH) at 13.00 WIB this afternoon.

Deputy Chairperson of Commission VIII DPR Ace Hasan Syadzily, revealed that the haj fee that will be determined later is the result of a re-calculation by the Working Committee (Panja) on Hajj Expenses after holding a meeting regarding component reductions.

"God willing, this afternoon or evening we will soon determine the 2023 Hajj Pilgrimage Implementation Fee (BPIH) will be announced," Ace told reporters, Tuesday, February 14.

"We, Panja Commission VIII, have worked hard to reduce the various components of Hajj financing that can be streamlined without reducing services to pilgrims," ​​he added.

The Golkar legislator in the West Java electoral district said Commission VIII of the DPR is still trying to ensure that the pilgrimage costs charged to prospective pilgrims do not exceed IDR 50 million.

It is known, the Ministry of Religion has proposed that the 2023 Hajj fee will be IDR 69 million. This figure is 70 percent of the costs that must be paid by the congregation, while 30 percent of the value of the benefits.

"From the IDR 98 million proposed by the Ministry of Religion, we are trying to reduce it. We are trying to set a peg for pilgrims to pay no more than Rp. 50 million, not up to IDR 69 million as proposed by the Ministry of Religion," said Ace.

Ace said Commission VIII of the DPR is also making efforts so that pilgrims who have paid off the 2020 fees, no longer need to pay back the pilgrimage deposit because their departure has been delayed.

"We are fighting so that the congregation whose departure is delayed due to the age policy and quota restrictions, which number as many as 84 thousand pilgrims, does not pay back the pilgrimage deposit," he explained.

Meanwhile, Commission VIII of the DPR is still discussing the components of transportation costs with PT Garuda Indonesia. Before holding a haj determination meeting with the Ministry of Religion this afternoon.

"We are still discussing this morning. And hopefully this afternoon or evening can be determined soon," said Ace.

Previously, the government lowered the cost of hajj for regular pilgrims from IDR 98.8 million to IDR 96.4 million. This was stated by the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Management, Hilman Latief, in a hearing with Commission VIII, Wednesday, February 8.

Hilman said there were several direct and indirect cost components that could be reduced. Namely the cost of accommodation, which was originally IDR 24.3 million, could be reduced to IDR 23.3 million. The initial consumption was IDR 7.8 million to IDR 5.8 million.

Then transportation from IDR 4.7 million to IDR 4.6 million. The cost for the travel document component is IDR 24.000 and the cost of living is reduced by IDR 80.000.

Meanwhile, for the indirect costs, which include the cost of organizing the pilgrimage in the country, there are components that can still be reduced. One of them is the Embarkation or Debarkation service worth IDR 39.2 thousand.

However, the factor of flight costs that cannot be lowered. According to him, this is still being negotiated with the airline. Thus, the proposal to increase the cost of the pilgrimage, which was originally IDR 98.8 million, can be reduced to IDR 96.4 million.

"That from our overall study, while the direct and indirect costs proposed per congregation were previously IDR 98.8 million, then they became Rp. 96.4 million, which is a decrease of IDR 2,415,953 and that has not been deducted from airline costs," said Hilman.

The Ministry of Religion also proposed Bipih in 2023 of 70 percent of the average proposed BPIH. While 30 percent comes from the value of the benefits of haj funds managed by BPIH.