Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VIII member Luqman Hakim responded to the news of the increase in the cost of the hajj pilgrimage for 2023. According to Luqman, the increase is inevitable since Saudi Arabia had increased several costs of the pilgrimage components.
“Like it or not, there has to be an increase in the total costs of the pilgrimage borne by each pilgrim,” said the PKB politician in a statement on Friday, January 20, 2023.
Luqman explained that the Hajj Fund Management Agency (BPKH) granted high subsidy funds in last year’s hajj season at around Rp60 million per pilgrim because Saudi suddenly raised the hajj service cost by a fantastic amount.
“From previously around Rp6 million to around Rp22.6 million per person. So the total hajj cost per person increased to almost Rp99 million,” Luqman informed.
Saudi announced the increase about a week before the departure of the Indonesian hajj groups. At that time, Luqman claimed the government had to cover the extra costs using funds from the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH).
Therefore, Luqman argued that adjustments to hajj expenses must be made in 2023 to prevent BPKH’s funds from being spent on excessive subsidies.
Luqman reiterated that the hajj funds managed by BPKH came from the initial deposits of prospective pilgrims. The government must ensure that prospective pilgrims who have paid the initial deposit can leave for the religious journey on time.
“If there is no increase [in hajj cost], meaning that each pilgrim pays only Rp39 million, it is estimated that BPKH will collapse or go bankrupt within the next 10 years,” Luqman calculated.
However, Luqman asserted that the proposed increase in the hajj pilgrimage, which cost Rp69 million per pilgrim is too high. As a member of the DPR Commission VIII overseeing religious affairs, Luqman believed that the increase should not exceed Rp55 million.
“I think it’s a psychological limit to the hike in the hajj cost that is borne by each pilgrim,” Luqman concluded.
“This increase in costs is being discussed with the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia and the figure is not final. How much it will increase depends on the government’s agreement with the people’s representatives. Because the government discusses this with the people’s representatives. We entrust it to the people’s representatives,” he explained.
The Ministry of Religion proposes that the average BPIH for each congregation is IDR 98,893,909. This amount has increased by around IDR 514 thousand with a composition of IDR 69,193,733 Bipih and a benefit value of IDR 29,700,175 million or 30 percent.
This means that if the proposal is approved, this year’s hajj expenses will almost double from last year’s IDR 39,8 million. This fee is also higher compared to 2018 to 2020 which was set at IDR 35 million.
“This increase in costs is being discussed with the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia and the figure is not final. How much it will increase depends on the government’s agreement with the people’s representatives. Because the government discusses this with the people’s representatives. We entrust it to the people’s representatives,” he explained.
The Ministry of Religion proposes that the average BPIH for each congregation is IDR 98,893,909. This amount has increased by around IDR 514 thousand with a composition of IDR 69,193,733 Bipih and a benefit value of IDR 29,700,175 million or 30 percent.
This means that if the proposal is approved, this year’s hajj expenses will almost double from last year’s IDR 39,8 million. This fee is also higher compared to 2018 to 2020 which was set at IDR 35 million.
TEMPO.CO
