DPR Reveals Potential Increase in Hajj Costs Next Year

Chair of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Marwan Dasopang, has revealed that the cost of the Hajj pilgrimage for 2027 could potentially increase compared to this year. “I don’t think it will go down. It is likely to go up if the calculation method is the same as last year. The formulation method for setting the budget, the items that are calculated, if that’s the way, I still think it will go up,” Marwan said at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Monday (6/7). However, Marwan stated that the DPR is still waiting for the cost proposal from the government. He mentioned that Commission VIII would understand if the government’s cost proposal is higher than this year’s. There are several factors triggering the Hajj cost increase, one of which is the exchange rate of the rupiah against the dollar. If they propose a figure above last year’s, Commission 8 understands that because, firstly, it is based on the exchange rate, where our currency is very weak. Then there are price increases in Saudi Arabia, plus taxes,” he said. According to Marwan, next year’s Hajj cost could potentially be the same as this year’s, but a new formulation pattern for calculating the costs would be required. He said the government must be able to convince the Saudi authorities regarding the organisation. “The new pattern depends on the ability of the Minister of Hajj to convince the parties in Saudi Arabia regarding the organisation. But if the normal calculation method during our discussions in the Working Committee, the BPIH Working Committee, it seems difficult. Even if it goes down, the services will go down. For example, the food might become less appealing, lacking the taste of the archipelago. That’s impossible, it cannot happen,” he stated.