Haj Minister Reveals Prabowo's Reaction to Potential 2027 Haj Cost Increase

Minister of Haj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, stated that he has reported to President Prabowo Subianto regarding the potential increase in the cost of the 2027 Haj pilgrimage. According to Gus Irfan, Prabowo gave a directive to ensure that any changes do not burden the pilgrims.

“We have conveyed it to him, but he just nodded and has not given a response yet. However, he did give us direction that whatever happens, we must try not to burden the pilgrims,” Gus Irfan said at the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday.

Gus Irfan touched on the global situation, including the weakening of the rupiah exchange rate and rising world oil prices. The Ministry of Haj and Umrah is currently seeking solutions so that the potential increase in 2027 Haj costs does not burden the pilgrims.

“Despite extraordinary global pressures, such as the dollar and oil prices which directly impact flights, we are working hard to ensure that the amount paid by the pilgrims will not burden them,” he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah proposed an increase in the cost of organising the Haj pilgrimage for 2027 to Rp 107 million per pilgrim, a rise of approximately Rp 19 million. This proposal was delivered during a working meeting with Commission VIII of the House of Representatives.

Nevertheless, the ministry has prepared a payment scheme to ease the burden on pilgrims. The scheme involves 60 per cent of the cost being covered by the value of benefits and 40 per cent by the Haj travel cost, so that the amount paid directly by pilgrims does not differ significantly from the previous year.