Fairness of Haj Pilgrimage Costs

The government, through Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, has proposed to set the cost of the haj pilgrimage in 1444 H/2023 AD at Rp 69.19 million per participant. The cost has nearly doubled from 2022’s price of Rp 39.89 million.

This is to pay for (1) round trip flights to and from Saudi Arabia at the price of Rp 33.98 million, (2) accommodation in Mecca at the price of Rp 18.77 million, (3) accommodation in Medina for Rp 5.6 million, (4) living costs of Rp 4.08 million, (5) visa costs of Rp 1.22 million and (6) a Masyair (travel from Mecca to Mount Arafat and accomodation) service package of Rp 5.54 million.

The government, has proposed to set the cost of the haj pilgrimage in 1444 H/2023 AD at Rp 69.19 million per participant.

The Religious Affairs Ministry’s data on the price of the haj since 2010 is as follows: Rp 30.05 million in 2010, Rp 32.04 million in 2011, Rp 37.16 million in 2012, Rp 43 million in 2013, Rp 40.03 million in 2014, Rp 37.49 million in 2015, Rp 34.60 million in 2016, Rp 34.89 million in 2017, Rp 35.24 million in 2018, Rp 35.24 million in 2019, Rp 39.89 million in 2022 and the Rp 69.19 million proposed for 2023.

The data shows that over these years, the increase in the price of the haj has only been around Rp 1 million to Rp 5 million per year. The costs of the haj even decreased from 2014 to 2016. The government's proposal of a 70 percent haj pricing scheme and 30 percent of the value of benefits caused the rise in the costs of haj pilgrimage in 2023 to be quite drastic, namely Rp 30 million per person.

Fund mismanagement

Indonesia is the country with the largest number of haj pilgrims in the world. The quota for Indonesian haj pilgrims in 2023 is 221,000, consisting of 204,000 regular haj pilgrims and 17,000 special haj pilgrims. The Haj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) said haj management funds in 2021 amounted to Rp 158.79 trillion and had increased to Rp 166.01 trillion in 2022.

Even without being disturbed, the haj funds will always increase because the interest of the Indonesian Muslim community is high, as shown by the haj waiting list, which is getting longer. On average, according to the data, applicants have been waiting 50 years. Some have even waited 70 or 80 years, such as in East Java, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), South Kalimantan and Aceh.

Also read: Indonesia’s Hajj Quota Reaches 221,000 People, no Restrictions on Pilgrims’ Age

The absence of the haj pilgrimage in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic caused the haj waiting list to extend further. If the data is correct, it means a new-born must immediately register for the pilgrimage to stand a good chance of going.

History records that haj funds have been mismanaged. A former religious affairs minister was sentenced to six years in prison for abusing his position to alter the implementation of the pilgrimage in 2010-2013.

In addition to that religious affairs minister, another occupant of the same position was sentenced to five years in prison in relation to private interests in the organization of the haj pilgrimage. Now, the management of haj funds is no longer under the religious affairs minister but is managed by a special body, the BPKH.

The government's proposal to increase the costs of haj pilgrimage can at least be seen from three aspects: fikih (jurisprudence), justice and the fairness of costs.

First, in terms of fikih, there is a concept of istito'ah (ability) as a mandatory requirement for the implementation of the pilgrimage. Istito'ah includes at least three things: finances, health and security. If a single aspect is not met, the haj obligation is automatically null. In accordance with a 2020 fatwa by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), istito'ah in financial matters is the ability of pilgrims to pay for the full costs of haj pilgrimage, without "assistance" of the value of benefits.

This means the price of the haj pilgrimage is actually not a problem for pilgrims because the obligation of the haj pilgrimage is only for those who have the ability, including financial capabilities.

Also read: Vice President: Cost Adjustment Needed to Maintain Subsidies

Assuming the full haj pilgrimage costs in 2023, as proposed by the government, are Rp 98.8 million per pilgrim, the pilgrim pays the price of the haj with his or her own ability sourced from (1) a personal initial deposit or down payment of Rp 25 million, (2) value of benefits of personal initial deposits and (3) a private paid deposit. That way, there are aspects of justice between pilgrims who are waiting 10 years and those who have a waiting period of 15 or 20 years.

Innovations that have been made by the BPKH with Virtual Account (VA) since 2018 need to be appreciated.

Second, related to the justice aspect is the matter of 2020 pilgrims who have paid the haj pilgrimage costs but have not been able to depart because of the postponement of the pilgrimage. As a matter of fact, in 2020 and 2021 there was a postponement of the haj pilgrimage due to policies related to Covid-19 and only some 50 percent departed in 2022.

What about the fate of the other 50 percent of 2020 pilgrims who have paid the haj pilgrimage costs and should depart on the pilgrimage in 2023? What about the fate of the pilgrims who have already paid but have had their journeys postponed? Suppose they have paid for the tickets, hotels, catering, Masyair and other costs and are ready to depart but are postponed because of Covid-19. Is it fair if the pilgrims are considered not yet paid off or have to pay up to Rp 69 million?

Third is the matter of fairness of haj pilgrimage costs. The data released by the Religious Affairs Ministry shows that the annual increase in pilgrimage costs from 2010 to 2022 was only around Rp 1 million to Rp 5 million. Even, the costs of pilgrimage also decreased, namely in 2014 (to Rp 40.03 million), in 2015 (to Rp 37.49 million) and in 2016 (to Rp 34.60 million). Is it natural that in 2023 there is a very drastic increase compared to the last 10 years?

In 2020 and 2021, there were haj pilgrimage delays, meaning that there was unused value of benefits in 2020 and 2021. The BPKH benefits value in 2022 of Rp 10.08 trillion was allocated: (1) for BPIH benefits valuing of Rp 7.1 trillion, (2) for a VA allocation of Rp 2 trillion, (3) for benefits of Rp 200 billion and (4) for operations of Rp 500 billion.

What about the benefits value of 2020 and 2021? This should also be able to be used because it is also the money of the pilgrims. Is it reasonable that the benefit value of pilgrims is "only" Rp 29.7 million (30 percent), while the costs borne by the pilgrims are very large, namely Rp 69.2 million (70 percent)?

Can't, for example, the Religious Affairs Ministry or BPKH make a breakthrough?

The public understands that there is an increase in the costs of aviation/transportation, charter costs, accommodation in Mecca and Medina and catering. It is reasonable. However, is the increase that big?

Can't, for example, the Religious Affairs Ministry or BPKH make a breakthrough? Habib Bugak al-Asyi alone can raise funds from the people of Aceh and be able to buy land and build hotels in Mecca. The government should have more capabilities.

In addition to getting an allowance for living expenses from the Religious Affairs Ministry as pilgrims from other provinces do, the pilgrims from Aceh will also get an additional fund of 1,200 SAR (Rp 4,500,000) from the Acehnese endowments represented by Habib Bugak Al-Asyi. Wallahualam.

Aji Sofanudin, Head of the Religion and Belief Research Center at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.