Pangkas Kenaikan Biaya Naik Haji 2023, Kemenag Kutik Pengadaan Pusat Jemaah Sebagai Rp5,5 Miliar

The DPR Commission VIII meeting related to the departure fee for the 2023 Hajj pilgrims, Tuesday, February 14, 2023. (Nailin-VOI)

JAKARTA - Commission VIII of the House of Representatives and the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) are targeting the 2023 hajj fee to be set today, Tuesday, February 14.

A number of components related to Hajj were highlighted until they were crossed out to reduce the cost of organizing the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage (BPIH) at the DPR Commission VIII general hearing (RDPU) with relevant stakeholders at the Senayan Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, February 14.

In the ongoing meeting, the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Organization of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) decided to remove the procurement of Hajj bracelets worth Rp. 5.5 billion. Initially, Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII DPR Marwan Dasopang, who chaired the meeting, questioned the component of the hajj costs related to the protection of the congregation, especially regarding the procurement of Hajj bracelets to the Director General of Hajj and Umrah, Hilman Latief. Whether, the procurement of Hajj bracelets worth Rp. 5,541,992,500 has been removed.

"Back again, Mr. Director General, (about) the protection of the procurement of Hajj bracelets," asked Marwan. However, Hilman explained that the components had been removed. Marwan also saw a presentation slide that gave information that 'this budget has been deleted'. "Already," replied Hilman.

"Oh, there's only one left, it's been deleted, has it been deleted, sir?" asked Marwan.

"Yes," said Hilman.

"Being only one, only Rp. 5 billion, yes, there is no delivery anymore, there are no more in 2024, only 1 item left. Yesterday, this is 3 items, it's no longer a bracelet, so it's only 1," said Marwan, who is also the Chairman of the DPR Commission VIII Working Committee. Previously, the issue of this Hajj bracelet was highlighted by Commission VIII DPR because of the alleged mark-up whose value is Rp. 5,000 can be Rp. 5,000 per piece. This was highlighted by Commission VIII DPR member Abdul Wachid. He also calculated that if it was used at a price of Rp. 35,000, then if it was used to 221,000 pilgrims, the amount could reach Rp. 7 billion. "This is a correct, who is the vendor? The vendor is the Ministry of Religion itself or who? If I count Rp. 35,000 times 221,000 pilgrims: Rp. 7 billion, sir," Abdul said at the meeting last Wednesday, February 8.

The price of the bracelet should only be Rp. 5,000. If multiplied by 221,000 pilgrims, the total is only Rp. 1 billion for the manufacture of bracelets.

"The price in Jepara is IDR 5,000. Just count IDR 1 billion divided by 221,000, how much is it? This is the material, there is Indonesia, this is red and white, I know all of this, sir. I don't think this is the business of the former Director General, who is now, I don't know this, please, I deliberately came home yesterday, I brought an example," explained Abdul.

In the end, the procurement of Hajj bracelets for the 2023 Hajj pilgrims worth IDR 5,541,992,500 has been removed.

The discussion regarding the costs of organizing the Hajj (BPIH) in 2023 is still ongoing in the DPR Commission VIII RDPU with the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religion, President Director of PT Garuda Indonesia, Head of the Ministry of Health's Hajj Health Center, Director General of Civil Aviation, and Head of BPKH and President Director of Saudi Airlines.