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December 30, 2024 | 07:08 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Muhammad Syafi'i announced the government's efforts to lower the 2025 Hajj Pilgrimage Costs (BPIH) and the financial burden on pilgrims. “It (BPIH) could be Rp85 million,” he told reporters at the Parliament Complex in Central Jakarta on Monday, December 30, 2024.
Syafi'i stated that the government is also reviewing the distribution of costs, aiming to ensure that the Hajj Pilgrimage Travel Costs (Bipih) borne by pilgrims do not exceed 60 percent of the total BPIH. “As I said earlier, we will re-evaluate it,” he reiterated.
He clarified that the 2025 regular and special BPIH proposal submitted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VIII in a letter numbered B-437/MA/HJ.00/12/2024 is still under review and will be further discussed by the Commission VIII working committee (Panja). Syafi'i confirmed that the final BPIH amount will be determined no later than January 10, 2025.
“We hope it will not reach Rp90 million,” he expressed.
Syafi'i affirmed the government's commitment to reducing Bipih to 60 percent of the total cost, with the remaining 40 percent covered by the benefit value. “God willing, if this can be suppressed further, Bipih can be below Rp56 million,” he projected.
He explained that streamlining BPIH can be achieved by leveraging the increasingly competitive accommodation market in Saudi Arabia. The growing number of hotels is expected to positively influence accommodation costs and service offerings.
“The possibility of better service [exists] because with many competitors the price is more competitive,” he elaborated.
Furthermore, Syafi'i revealed that the government is exploring cost reductions in several Hajj implementation components, including airfare and catering.
He suggested that airfare efficiency could be achieved through negotiations to reduce the price of aircraft fuel (avtur) for Hajj flights. “Pak Prabowo has a policy that for the high season alone, it can be cut by 10 percent,” he stated.
In addition to airfare, Syafi'i highlighted the potential to reduce per-portion food costs for Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, measured in Saudi Riyal (SAR).
“The previous catering was 16 and a half (SAR), it could possibly be reduced to 15 to 14 SAR per portion,” he indicated.
He concluded that by implementing cost-saving measures across multiple components, the government is optimistic about achieving a reduction in the 2025 Hajj costs. “This year the cost of the Hajj, God willing, will go down but with a better form of service,” Syafi'i emphasized.
In a working meeting with Commission VIII, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar proposed a 2025 Bipih of Rp65,372,779.49, based on a total average BPIH of Rp93,389,684.99. This proposal would place 70 percent of the Hajj costs on pilgrims, with the government covering the remaining 30 percent (Rp28,016,905.5) through the benefit value.
This previous proposal indicated an increase in costs borne by pilgrims compared to the 2024 BPIH of Rp93,410,286, which consisted of a Bipih of Rp56,046,171 (60%) and a benefit value of Rp37,364,114 (40%).
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