Hajj Minister on Ticket War: If Premature, We'll Close It
Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf has responded to the controversy over the proposed ticket war for Hajj, which has been protested by associations and members of the House of Representatives. During a meeting with Commission VIII of the DPR on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, the ticket war was also one of the hot topics discussed.
Irfan admitted that the idea is an option being considered by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to shorten the Hajj waiting period. “This is what has been making headlines; I acknowledge that the ticket war is indeed a concept we are discussing at the Ministry of Hajj,” he said at the DPR Building in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The Gerindra Party politician then continued, stating that he is the person responsible for this controversy because he was the one who first announced it at the National Working Meeting on the Implementation of Hajj Worship 1447 Hijriah in Tangerang, Banten, on 8 April 2026. In response to various criticisms, he stated that he is ready to postpone the discussion on the ticket war and focus on preparations for the Hajj, with the first batch departing on 22 April.
“I am the one who first introduced the term ticket war, and if it is considered too premature, then we will close it for now until today,” said Irfan.
The proposal to abolish the queuing system and implement a ticket war emerged after President Prabowo Subianto directed the Ministry of Hajj to revolutionise Hajj implementation. Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said one of the ideas that emerged was to eliminate the waiting period system and switch to a ticket war mechanism or direct registration.
Irfan said that system was once implemented in Indonesia before the Hajj Financial Management Agency was established. In the past, Irfan explained, the system in place was direct registration or ticket war.
At that time, the government would announce the Hajj costs for the current year and the available quota, then open registration for a certain period. Anyone with the financial ability and good physical condition could register directly. The pilgrims who could depart were those who paid the Hajj costs first and secured the tickets.
Member of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives Selly Andriany Gantina said that the Hajj ticket war is not a solution amid the overwhelming queue for Hajj departures. Selly noted that there are currently 5.6 million people on the Hajj waiting list.
“Today is not the right moment to issue a statement on the ticket war. And we hope that the Ministry of Hajj can curb efforts to issue a ticket war statement,” said the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle politician at the DPR Building in Jakarta on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.
According to Selly, the ticket scramble scheme harms justice for people who have been queuing for Hajj for years. She urged that the millions of people already on the Hajj list be prioritised for departure.