Deputy Chairperson of Commission VIII DPR, Ace Hasan Syadzily, considers the proposed increase in the Cost of Organizing Hajj (BPIH) for 2024 to IDR 105,095,032.34 by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) as excessively high. Commission VIII hopes that the BPIH does not exceed IDR 100 million per pilgrim. "Certainly, for us, this increase is very high, and we will delve into it, at least hoping it does not exceed 100 million per pilgrim. This way, we can control the financing from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and resolve it," said Ace at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (15/11/2023).

He stated that discussions would take place at the working committee (Panja) level. They will attempt to press down the proposed BPIH value from Kemenag to avoid burdening Hajj pilgrims. "We aim to discuss the Hajj cost by the end of November, specifically on November 22," added Ace. If the plan goes according to schedule, prospective Hajj pilgrims can start paying installments for next year's Hajj deposit.

Ace suspects that the BPIH increase is due to the high air transportation costs. He mentioned that there is an increase of about 4 million from IDR 32 million in 2023 to IDR 36 million in 2024. "We will explore aspects like that, or for example, the consumption costs, which were 18.5 riyals per pilgrim last year, should now increase to 18.5," he said. "This needs to be scrutinized, in addition to the reasons stated by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, such as the higher exchange rates of the Dollar and Riyal compared to the previous year," Ace added.

Previously reported, Kemenag proposed an increase in BPIH to IDR 105,095,032.34 per pilgrim in 2024. This was conveyed by Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas during a Working Meeting with Commission VIII DPR RI at Nusantara 5 Building DPR RI, Jakarta, on Monday (13/11/2023). "The government has formulated the BPIH burden for the year 1445 H/2024 M, which has undergone a thorough study," said Yaqut.

Yaqut explained that the 2024 BPIH plan consists of the Travel Costs of Hajj (Bipih) amounting to IDR 73,566,522.64 and a benefit value of IDR 31,528,509.70. Bipih is the fund that must be paid by pilgrims who will perform the Hajj, while the benefit value is the profit from the management and development of the Hajj fund through placement and/or investment.