Ministry Of Religion Proposes Additional BPIH IDR 288 Billion For Additional Hajj Quota

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion proposes to increase the cost of organizing Hajj (BPIH) by IDR 288,312,382,288.42 which is sourced from the value of the benefits of Hajj financial management for the additional budget for the regular Hajj quota of 1444 Hijri/2023 AD.

"In order to fulfill the principle of justice, the need for 7,360 people (regular Hajj participants) is taken from the value of benefits," said Director General of Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religion Hilman Latief in a Hearing Meeting (RDP) with Commission VIII DPR reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 22.

Previously, Indonesia received an additional quota of 8,000 hajj candidates. This figure is divided into 7,360 regular hajjes and 640 special hajjes. Initially, the Ministry of Religion submitted a budget proposal of Rp. 313,379,436,950.82 for 8,000 hajj candidates. However, this figure changed to Rp288,312,288.42 for 7,360 regular hajj candidates.

Hilman said a number of considerations for this additional budget proposal include foreign currency exchange rates, the same as BPIH's determination, the frequency of Manasik in districts/cities twice, and Manasik at the KUA level three times.

"Considering the implementation time which is getting closer to the departure time," he said.

As for the percentage of Hajj Travel Fees (Bipih), it is still in the discussion stage. Head of BPKH Fadlul Imamsyah said he was still reviewing the formulation of determining Bipih by prioritizing the principles of future Hajj financial sustainability.

When determining the Bipih percentage for regular hajj candidates, the normal quota is an average of Rp49,812,700.26 (55.3 percent) and the use of the benefit value per person is Rp40,237,937 (44.7 percent). BPKH then proposed a percentage of 60 percent Bipih and 40 percent of the benefit value for 7,360 additional hajj quotas.

"We simulate that if we have to take the benefit value, we propose that according to the study we are still doing according to the sustainability of Hajj finance, Bipih presentation and 60:40 percent benefit value for additional Hajj pilgrims," he said.

Meanwhile, Member of Commission VIII DPR John Kennedy Azis urged the Bipih percentage and fixed benefit value to 55.3 percent and 44.7 percent. The proposal is so that there is no jealousy between the normal quota congregation and the additional quota.

"If there is a difference between the regular quota and the addition, jealousy will emerge. Why is there a difference in the number subsidized by BPKH between the 221,000 quota and eight thousand?," he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, Ashabul Kahfi, asked BPKH to review and calculate the availability of the value of benefits that will be used to meet the needs of additional regular hajj quotas.