Atalia Praratya Warns That Hajj "War Ticket" Proposal Threatens Elderly Pilgrims Who Have Saved for 20 Years
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Commission VIII, Atalia Praratya, has warned that the proposal to implement a “war ticket” system for Hajj pilgrimage organisation could threaten pilgrims who have been saving for a long time, particularly housewives and the elderly.
She further cautioned that the “war ticket” system, which relies on speed of access and payment, would create new inequalities within society.
“What about the housewives in the villages who have been saving for 20 years? What about our grandparents who are not tech-savvy? They will be sidelined,” said Atalia on Friday (10/4/2026).
The Golkar politician understands that the Ministry of Religious Affairs is seeking ways to reduce the lengthy Hajj waiting lists, which can stretch to decades.
However, Atalia believes that the “war ticket” solution is still premature and risks ignoring the principle of fairness.
“We all agree that waiting nearly three decades is too long. However, the solution must not arise from haste that creates even bigger new problems,” explained Atalia.
Therefore, Atalia stated that reverting the Hajj system to a “first come, first served” mechanism would be a setback in Indonesia’s Hajj governance.
“Reverting the Hajj system to a war ticket or ‘speed race’ mechanism like before 2017 would be a major setback for the reform of Hajj governance in Indonesia,” emphasised Atalia.
She hopes the government does not rush to change the current queuing system.
“If the queuing system is abolished and reverted to a full lump-sum payment system, the Hajj funds amounting to hundreds of trillions would dry up. Who will subsidise the pilgrims? Will Hajj costs rise drastically?” said Atalia.
“This is not about innovation or being outdated. This is about protecting the 5.5 million pilgrims currently in the long queue. Do not, in our desire to appear progressive, end up neglecting them,” she concluded.