Komnas Haji Requests Re-examination of Hajj Ticket Auction Proposal, Provides Several Notes

The National Commission on Hajj (Komnas Haji) has requested that the proposal for auctioning Hajj tickets, put forward by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj), be examined more deeply. Komnas Haji has provided several notes to ensure the complete organisation of Hajj worship for pilgrims.

“I think for now it is not ideal and has not yet become the right momentum. Why? If we imagine the ticket auction as competing for tickets like concert tickets, entertainment tickets, or sports events, I think this idea needs to be refined and consider several things,” said Komnas Haji Chairman Mustolih Siradj to reporters on Monday (13/4/2026).

Mustolih assessed that the Hajj ticket auction requires internet connectivity, so whether the system will benefit prospective pilgrims in urban areas. Law No. 14 of 2025 is also deemed not yet compatible with the ticket auction system because it is not fully regulated.

“Furthermore, most of our pilgrims are elderly, and their IT skills are very limited, with education levels middle to lower,” he said.

Indonesia’s position in organising Hajj worship is as a distributor of pilgrims. Meanwhile, capacity in Saudi Arabia is limited, so Saudi Arabia applies a quota system to countries sending pilgrims.

“Why then are there long queues? Because Hajj is performed in a specific place and at a specific time. When is the time? It is in the month of Hajj and cannot be done in other months, and the place is also specific,” said Mustolih.

The Hajj quota problem is not only experienced by Indonesia but also by other major Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia. Mustolih gave the example of Malaysia, but the neighbouring country does not implement ticket auctions.

“Therefore, I think the ticket auction idea needs to be studied more deeply and comprehensively. Because it must also consider the 5.7 million pilgrims who are already queuing and have paid; with the ticket auction, that also needs to be considered. Then, if there is a ticket auction, it means they register and depart immediately, so the costs would be higher,” he stated.

Mustolih prioritised the idea of Indonesia negotiating with countries that receive Hajj quotas but do not fully absorb them. Indonesia is seen as able to take advantage of that opportunity for its pilgrims.

“One thing is this: the proposal that emerged is how if Indonesia lobbies countries given Hajj quotas by Saudi but not maximally absorbed. Usually, countries where the majority of the population is non-Muslim or Muslims are a minority, like Singapore, European countries, American countries, they are given quotas but not optimal. There was once a proposal that how if Indonesia coordinates lobbying those countries to transfer the unabsorbed portions to our country,” he added.

Kemenhaj is known to be studying the ‘ticket auction’ system proposal for Hajj worship without queuing. Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Wamenhaj) Dahnil Azhar Prabowo assured that prospective pilgrims who have already queued will still be prioritised to depart to the Holy Land.

“The priority is first for those who have queued. Those who have queued remain the first and primary,” said Dahnil to reporters on Sunday (12/4).