REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The increase in Hajj expenses agreed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Parliament should be offset by the satisfaction of pilgrims. This was stated by Ismed Hasan Putro, Chairman of the Center for Indonesian Hajj Brotherhood Association (IPHI).

“The increase of Rp 3 million is not too far, it is still below the fall in inflation. Most importantly, how to improve the satisfaction of worshippers, from the aspect of food quality, accommodation should be even better,” Ismed said on Tuesday (28/11/2023).

Ismed said the error made in 2022 should not be repeated in the implementation of the 2023 hajj, where food is a problem and transport is also inadequate for worshippers. “It should be every year better, not going backwards while costs continue to rise,” Ismed said.

In addition, Ismed emphasized that the Hajj's health needs are in accordance with the actual conditions. The worshippers who can leave are those who have met the standards of agreement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament.

Ismed said the Indonesian government also needs to cooperate with Saudi Arabia regarding the main needs of Hajj worshippers. This is done so that mistakes that were previously not repeated such as catering problems and others.

“The government no longer helps without quotas, in Mina a lot happened that was for regular facilities to suddenly be filled with Furoda ones, this was evaluated again, straightforwardly and decisively,” Ismed said.

“There are still many (government tasks) after this pricing is just the beginning. The government prioritizes the elderly, this will have consequences not only for the officers but also with costs, because it is a strict policy that needs the support of all parties,” Ismed continued.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the VIII DPR Commission had agreed on the Cost of Holding Hajj (BPIH) 1445 H/2024 M. This agreement was formulated during the Working Meeting of the Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his staff with the VIII Commission of the DPR RI in Senayan, Jakarta on Monday (27/11/2023).

Total hajj expense for each pilgrim in 1445 H/ 2024 amounted to IDR 93,410,286. part of expense will be subsidized and other IDR 56,046,172 must be paid by pilgrim.

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