Expert Suggests Government Issue Emergency Regulation to Address Additional Hajj Flight Costs

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Constitutional law expert from Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Fahri Bachmid, believes that President Prabowo Subianto needs a legal basis to allocate around Rp1.77 trillion from the state budget for subsidising Hajj flight costs in 2026. Fahri encourages Prabowo to issue a Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu). The fund allocation is required as a consequence of the surge in avtur prices and fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate. Fahri views the Perppu as functioning as a tool or legal instrument for the government to act quickly and extraordinarily in emergency and urgent situations. “This is a strong juridical ‘beleid’ policy choice for President Prabowo to address the rise in Hajj flight costs caused by the increase in avtur,” said Fahri in his statement in Jakarta on Saturday (18/4/2026). Fahri states that the Perppu policy is a constitutional legal product of the president that is highly “related” to objective and factual conditions. Because objectively there is the Hajj Law, but it is insufficient to anticipate the rise in avtur prices. Meanwhile, on the other hand, Hajj pilgrims must not become victims of this situation and circumstance. “Thus, the state with all its capacity must be present to provide protection and certainty. Essentially, the presence of the state in all circumstances is a necessity because the state has a fundamental responsibility to protect its citizens,” Fahri said.