Hajj Ticket Auction Proposal: Deputy Chair of DPR Commission VIII Urges Ministry of Hajj to Explain to Avoid Public Anxiety

Deputy Chairman of DPR RI Commission VIII, Abidin Fikri, has requested that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah provide a detailed explanation of the proposal for a ‘ticket auction’ system for Hajj pilgrimage without the need for queuing. Abidin stated that this information is necessary to prevent anxiety among the public, particularly prospective pilgrims who have been waiting for a dozen to several decades. “That’s just an initial discourse; the government, through the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, should explain it comprehensively so as not to cause anxiety for prospective pilgrims who have registered and received their departure schedules,” Abidin told reporters on Saturday (11/4/2026). This PDIP legislator reminded that the spontaneous idea put forward by Minister of Hajj Mochamad Irfan Yusuf (Gus Irfan) should not be disseminated without thorough testing. He hopes for detailed data from the Ministry of Hajj. “In my opinion, all efforts to address the complexity of the long queues for prospective pilgrims must be promptly explained by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah; spontaneous ideas that have not been properly tested should not be shared with the public,” he said. He noted that the proposal could be implemented as long as it is calculated correctly and fairly. Abidin is still considering several possibilities if the Hajj ‘ticket auction’ proposal is enacted. “I think it depends on how the government implements it, whether the ticket auction scheme prioritises those already in the queue or not. Or anyone can register after the government and DPR set the Hajj Organisational Cost (BPIH), and those who pay directly can depart for Hajj without considering the existing pilgrim queue,” he stated. Previously, the Ministry of Hajj was examining a radical breakthrough to address the Hajj queuing issue that has persisted for decades. One emerging discourse is the implementation of a ‘ticket auction’ mechanism or direct registration system without long queues, similar to the Hajj departure process in the past. Hajj and Umrah Minister RI Gus Irfan revealed that this idea stems from progressive thinking within the Ministry, including from the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah. The goal is to find a solution so that prospective pilgrims do not have to wait too long to depart for the Holy Land. “The thought arose: do we need such a long queue? Shouldn’t we consider returning to the era before the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) existed? Before BPKH, Insha’Allah, there were no queues,” said the Minister during the National Work Meeting (Rakernas) for Hajj Organisation Consolidation for 1447 H/2025 M, held at the Grand El Hajj Hajj Dormitory (Cipondoh Hajj Dormitory), Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday (8/4/2026). Under this ‘ticket auction’ scheme, the government would announce the current year’s Hajj costs and open registration on a specific date. Anyone who is financially and physically ready can register directly and depart in the same year.