Commission VIII Questions Hajj Ticket Lottery Proposal, Beneficiaries Would Be the Wealthy

The Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Marwan Dasopang, reminded the government of the importance of considering legal, historical, and sociological aspects if it wishes to turn the Hajj ticket lottery or “war ticket” proposal into policy. “For discussion, I think it’s fine, but if it becomes policy, there are certainly aspects that need to be considered,” he said when met at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (10/4/2026). From a legal perspective, Marwan stated that the proposal does not align with Law Number 14 of 2025 on the Third Amendment to Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning Hajj and Umrah Worship. “In that (Hajj and Umrah Law), it states ‘register’, not ‘hunt’ for tickets,” said the legislator in the fields of religion and social affairs. He also questioned the legal basis if the ticket lottery scheme were truly implemented. “Where is the article? It’s impossible for a policy to lack a legal provision,” he said. From a historical perspective, he noted that the waiting list system was implemented due to the high interest among Muslim communities in performing Hajj. For that reason, he said, the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) was established to manage Hajj finances. “If the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ explanation suggests that the long queue emerged because of BPKH. Well, it’s not like that,” he said. In addition, Marwan stated that a sociological study of this proposal is also crucial. If the Hajj ticket lottery is enforced, communities with established economic backgrounds will dominate. This condition, he said, would give rise to jealousy among the public. “For example, if it’s a war ticket, then who will hunt for it? The ticket hunters are the rich people, right? That means the rich don’t need to be limited. If given free rein, those who cannot afford Hajj will feel envious too,” he said.