AMPHURI Comments on Hajj 'War Ticket' Proposal: From Loss of Sense of Justice to Managed Funds

The Indonesian Association of Hajj and Umrah Organisers (AMPHURI) views the proposal for implementing a Hajj ‘war ticket’ mechanism as part of efforts to find solutions to the lengthy Hajj queues in Indonesia, but it requires comprehensive evaluation. “In principle, we always support every initiative and positive government programme. However, every public policy, especially those concerning worship and millions of people, needs to be studied in depth to remain in line with the principles of justice, legal certainty, and the welfare of the ummah,” said AMPHURI Secretary General Zaky Zakaria in Jakarta on Monday. Zaky stated that the Hajj war ticket idea can be seen as a form of policy ijtihad in managing the complex Hajj system. Nevertheless, its implementation must refer to the mandate of Law No. 14 of 2025, which emphasises fair, orderly, and civilised services. He explained that the Hajj war ticket concept generally points to a mechanism where the government sets the programme and package prices, after which eligible pilgrims can directly participate in a selection based on “first come, first served” or a competitive scheme. However, the technical details of the policy are still unclear. Zaky also clarified the notion that the long Hajj queues are caused by the existence of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH). He stressed that the queues have existed long before the agency operated. According to him, long queues emerged as early as 2009–2013, and the initial deposit registration system began in 1999. Meanwhile, BPKH only became effective in 2017 based on Law No. 34 of 2014 on Hajj Financial Management. “This means the queues are not caused by BPKH, but by structural factors,” said Zaky. He assessed that the root of the Hajj queue problem is structural, including limited quotas based on global policies, population growth of Muslims not matching the quotas, increasing interest in Hajj, and rising purchasing power of the population. AMPHURI provides critical notes on the Hajj war ticket, particularly the potential loss of a sense of justice for millions of prospective Hajj participants who have waited for decades. In addition, the scheme is seen as potentially complicating matters for low-income communities and triggering social unrest. From a financial perspective, the system change will also impact the Hajj managed funds, which currently amount to around Rp170 trillion at BPKH, thus requiring clarity on the mechanism if the queues are eliminated.