DPR's Commission VIII: Proposal for Hajj Ticket Auction System Contradicts the Law

Commission VIII of the House of Representatives has stated that the idea of implementing a bidding or ticket auction system for Hajj departures does not comply with the provisions in Law No. 14 of 2025 on the Organisation of Hajj and Umrah. Commission VIII Chairman Marwan Dasopang assessed that the proposal lacks legal basis under the law.

“We just passed Law No. 14 of 2025. It states that prospective Hajj pilgrims must register; they cannot hunt for tickets,” he said at the DPR Complex in Jakarta on Friday, 10 April 2026.

The National Awakening Party politician viewed this as something that could be discussed if it remains merely a proposal. However, if it is to be implemented, the policy would require the DPR and government to amend the Hajj Law for the fourth time, with the third revision only approved on 26 August 2025.

According to Marwan, during the discussions on revising the Hajj Law at that time, the idea of a ticket auction system never emerged. Therefore, he considers the idea put forward by Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf as ignoring the legislative product already agreed upon by the DPR and the government as lawmakers. “So it is impossible for the policy not to be based on its legal provisions,” he stated.

A similar view was expressed by Commission VIII member from the Golkar faction, Atalia Praratya. She took issue with the idea because it would harm the fairness for prospective pilgrims who have queued for decades, allowing others to jump the queue. According to Atalia, this discourse blatantly contradicts the Hajj Law, which adheres to the first-come-first-served principle based on registration order numbers.

Although this proposal arises from the government’s concern over the long Hajj waiting lists, she considers the idea premature and capable of destroying Hajj financial governance. “Reverting the Hajj system to a ticket auction or ‘speed race’ mechanism like before 2017 would be a major setback for Hajj governance reforms in Indonesia,” said Atalia in her statement on Friday.

Atalia conveyed that Hajj is a spiritual calling from God to Muslims, not a clicking race. If this auction system is implemented, she said, the winners would be those with advanced gadgets, the best internet connections, and instant financial capability.

Marwan and Atalia recommend that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah thoroughly review this idea to avoid causing public anxiety. Atalia views that the government needs to be careful in floating such discourses because every idea voiced by officials will be perceived by the public as a policy direction.

“Society needs certainty, especially regarding the organisation of Hajj, which is highly sensitive,” she stated.

Historically, the Hajj waiting list system began to apply in Indonesia in 2008. This system was implemented because public interest in Hajj was very high, exceeding the annual quota given by Saudi Arabia.

Hajj queues in various regions of Indonesia vary, from a dozen to as long as 47 years. However, starting this year, the government has standardised the Hajj waiting period across all regions to 26 years.

The plan to abolish the queuing system and implement a ticket auction arose after President Prabowo Subianto directed the Ministry of Hajj to revolutionise Hajj organisation. In a working meeting with the Red and White Cabinet at the State Palace on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, Prabowo expressed his desire to shorten the Hajj waiting period, which has long been a major issue for Muslims in Indonesia. “We are now fighting and alhamdulillah we have reports that the Hajj queue is no longer 48 years. Starting 2026, the longest Hajj queue is 26 years, and I will fight to make it even shorter,” said Prabowo.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said one idea that emerged is to abolish the waiting list system and switch to a ticket auction or direct registration mechanism. Irfan said this system was once implemented in Indonesia before the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) was established.

In the past, Irfan explained, the system in place was direct registration or ticket auction. The government would announce the Hajj costs for the current year and the available quota, then open registration for a certain period. Anyone with financial and physical capability could register directly.

The pilgrims who departed were those who first succeeded in paying the Hajj costs and securing tickets. “The government announces this year’s Hajj costs are such and such, registration opens from this date to that date, please those who want to go on Hajj, pay. Like a ‘ticket auction’,” said Irfan when opening the National Working Meeting on the Organisation of Hajj for 1447 Hijriah in Tangerang, Banten, as uploaded on the Ministry of Hajj’s YouTube account on Wednesday, 8 April 2026.