Ketum PBNU Please Determine The Cost Of Hajj Not Strengthening Congregants

PBNU General Chair Yahya Cholil Staquf after opening the R20 International Summit of Religious Authority (ISORA) in Jakarta, Monday (27/11/2023). (ANTARA/Asep Firmansyah)

Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Yahya Cholil Staquf hopes that the determination of the 2024 Hajj fee which will be decided today by the Hajj Working Committee (Panja) will not be too burdensome for the congregation.

"Hopefully it's not too burdensome. It was rich last year, right, around Rp. 90 million. The congregation paid Rp. 50 million, I think it's still normal," Yahya said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 27.

The government and Commission VIII of the DPR plan to determine the Cost of Organizing Hajj (BPIH) for the Hajj season of 1445 Hijri/2024 AD this afternoon.

In a number of work meetings that have been held, the Hajj Committee consisting of the Ministry of Religion and Commission VIII has detailed the description of the agreed cost of IDR 93.4 million per person.

This figure is around Rp. 3.4 million higher than the determination of the Hajj costs of 1444 Hijri/2023 AD. The Ministry of Religion said the increase in the figure was due to following the Dollar and Riyal exchange rates, as well as an increase in a number of components.

In the Panja Hajj meeting, it will also be decided on the composition of the Hajj Travel Cost (Bipih) paid by pilgrims and the Benefit Value of the management of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH).

"Yes, we'll see later. Usually it doesn't pay in full. Whatever is set, part of it is paid for Hajj endowment funds," said Gus Yahya.

Previously, the House of Representatives Commission VIII Hajj Working Committee proposed Hajj Travel Fees (Bipih) of around Rp. 55 to Rp. 56 million per person and funds taken from the value of benefits of Rp. 38 million.

"Most of Commission VIII proposes paying Hajj fees proportional to 60 percent to be paid directly for by pilgrims and 40 percent covered from the value of benefits," said Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII DPR Ace Hasan Syadzily.

According to Ace, this composition considers aspects of justice in the use of the value of the benefits of hajj funds managed by BPKH.

As an illustration, the average BPIH 2023 is IDR 90,050,637.26. BPIH's composition consists of Bipih which is paid by Hajj participants in 2023, an average of IDR 49,812,700.26 (55.3 percent), and a value of benefits of IDR 40,237,937 (44.7 percent).