Experts Reveal Differences in Indonesia's Hajj System Before and After BPKH

Indonesia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is currently examining the concept of a ‘guaranteed ticket’ scheme to tackle the issue of Hajj queues that have persisted for decades.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah M. Irfan Yusuf addressed the lengthy waiting times for prospective Hajj pilgrims and compared them to the era before the existence of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH).

“Should we have such long queues? Shouldn’t we consider returning to the time before BPKH? Before BPKH, insha’Allah, there were no queues,” said the Minister during the National Work Meeting (Rakernas) for the Consolidation of Hajj Worship Implementation for 1447 H/2025 AD, held at the Grand El Hajj Hajj Dormitory (Cipondoh Hajj Dormitory), Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday (8/4), as quoted by Detik.

BPKH was established in 2014. Its formation is based on Law No. 34 of 2014 on Hajj Financial Management.

“BPKH is tasked with managing Hajj finances, including receipts, development, expenditure, and accountability of Hajj finances.

BPKH is also authorised to place and invest Hajj finances in accordance with sharia principles, prudence, security, value benefits, and liquidity,” states the general explanation of Law 34/2014.

The explanation of the law also describes the increasing number of Indonesian Muslims registering for Hajj worship, while the available Hajj quota is limited.

As a result, there has been a significant increase in the number of waiting Hajj pilgrims.

Meanwhile, on the other hand, the increase in the number of waiting Hajj pilgrims has led to the accumulation of large amounts of Hajj pilgrim funds.

“The accumulation of such Hajj pilgrim funds has the potential to enhance their beneficial value, which can be used to support quality Hajj worship implementation,” it states.

Hajj and Umrah worship implementation expert, Ade Rabithah, explained the differences in Indonesia’s Hajj system before and after BPKH.

She stated that before BPKH existed, the dispatch of prospective Indonesian Hajj pilgrims indeed did not involve a queuing system.

“As soon as there is money, the government opens the registration process. We register, pay, register, pay, register, pay,” said Ade via telephone connection on Monday (13/4).

Ade said that in the mid-2000s, when BPKH was introduced, the queuing system became known.

She explained that the system imitated Malaysia’s Hajj savings model to provide benefits to prospective pilgrims.

“By giving everyone the opportunity to save and be able to depart,” she said.

However, she opined that in practice, it differs between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Ade explained that in Malaysia, the body similar to Indonesia’s BPKH, namely Lembaga Tabung Haji, is considered more productive in its performance.

“They invest in productive sectors. Including palm oil and so on,” she said.

Meanwhile, BPKH in Indonesia, according to her, is less productive.

“There are no productive sectors that generate returns. For example, buying planes or wanting to buy hotels in Saudi Arabia, that’s not BPKH. It only plays safe, at single-digit rates of 6 percent and 6 point something,” she said.

Separately, the Secretary General of the Indonesian Muslim Hajj and Umrah Organisers Association (Amphuri), Zaky Zakaria Anshary, also responded to Gus Irfan’s remarks regarding BPKH.

He opined that the statement that Hajj queues emerged after BPKH needs historical clarification.

“In fact, long queues have occurred since 2009-2013,” said Zaky.

In addition, he said that the initial deposit system for regular Hajj registration has been in place since 1999.

He stated that the initial deposit for registration was due to the beginning of Hajj queues, although not as long as now.

“Meanwhile, BPKH itself only became effectively operational in 2017, based on Law Number 34 of 2014 on Hajj Financial Management. This means that the queues are not caused by BPKH, but by structural factors,” he said.

Furthermore, Zaky also delved into the root causes of the long Hajj queues in Indonesia. He opined that the long queues are caused by limited quotas, the growth of the Indonesian Muslim population not matching the quota ratio, increasing awareness and interest in performing Hajj, and improved purchasing power of the community.

“So the main issue is the imbalance between supply (quota) and demand (pilgrims),” he said.