Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy suggested that cost of the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage, which is currently in the review stage, should be increased gradually.

"I have conveyed my suggestion to the minister of religious affairs related to the increase in Hajj costs to be carried out gradually," the minister stated on the sidelines of his working visit to Semarang, Central Java, Tuesday.

Effendy remarked that the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage cost must be increased to maintain the continuity of organizing the pilgrimage. He reminded that the cost of the pilgrimage trip (Bipih) has, so far, been below the value that pilgrims should have paid with help from the government to subsidize the gap.

"The increase in Bipih is a must. (It is) because, so far, the cost of the pilgrimage has been below the value that they should have paid," the minister remarked.

However, he said that the increase in Bipih should be implemented gradually to reduce the burden on pilgrims.

Earlier, the Religious Affairs Ministry proposed the average Bipih for Hajj pilgrimage in 2023 amounting to Rp69,193,733 per person, higher than the cost of the 2022 Hajj pilgrimage that was set at Rp39,886,009 per person.

In a joint working meeting with Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas explained that the average cost of Hajj pilgrimage covered 70 percent of the proposed average Hajj Pilgrimage Cost (BPIH) of Rp98,893,909 per person.

He noted that the proposed BPIH value in 2023 has increased by Rp514,888 as compared to the previous year due to a significant change in the composition of BPIH.

"That is the most logical way to keep the funds in the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) from decreasing, with such composition," Qoumas stated.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo also noted that the cost of the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage was still under review and had not been finalized.

"The cost of the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage is still in the review process. It has not been decided and is still in the calculation process," he remarked.

Source: https://en.antaranews.com/news/271284/minister-suggests-gradual-increase-in-2023-hajj-pilgrimage-cost