Hajj Ministry pushes for transparent pilgrim fund management through Hajj Finance Law revision

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is pushing for more transparent and accountable management of hajj funds to ensure prospective pilgrims’ money is fully accounted for and used exclusively for hajj purposes, using the momentum of the revision of Law Number 34 of 2014. Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, speaking in Jakarta on Thursday, said the regulatory strengthening measure aligns with a direct instruction from the President that financial management should not burden the public. “We are even encouraging that future hajj financial management, in accordance with the President’s instruction, must be transparent and accountable. All money used from pilgrims must be fully accountable for hajj,” he said. Dahnil explained that through the revision process of the Hajj Financial Management Law, the ministry wants to ensure prospective pilgrims receive many conveniences and high value benefits. Regarding the nominal cost, Dahnil mentioned the ministry is more focused on optimising the current Rp25 million initial deposit to generate high value benefits, rather than having to collect a larger deposit amount from pilgrims upfront. “So, do not collect more but with low value benefits. Our concern is to push for higher value benefits,” Dahnil said in response to journalists’ questions about a possible fee increase next year. Previously, BPKH leadership in a hearing with Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives on Tuesday (23/6) revealed a potential additional managed fund of Rp5.65 trillion that could not be realised this year due to the unimplemented policy of increasing the initial deposit for prospective pilgrims. BPKH Executive Head Fadlul Imansyah explained the unrealised additional target was initially projected from the planned adjustment of initial deposit funds for both regular and special hajj. According to BPKH data, the planned increase of the regular hajj initial deposit from Rp25 million to Rp35 million, the special hajj initial deposit from 4,000 US dollars to 6,000 US dollars, and the instalment scheme for waiting pilgrims have not yet been operationally implemented.