Millions Queue for Hajj, PDIP: Inappropriate Moment for Ticket War
Member of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives Selly Andriany Gantina stated that a ticket war for Hajj is not a solution amid the swelling queue for Hajj departures. Selly noted that there are currently 5.6 million people on the waiting list for Hajj worship.
“Today is not the right moment to issue a statement on ticket war. We hope 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 scheme of competing for Hajj tickets harms justice for the public who have queued for Hajj departures for years. She encouraged that the millions of people already on the Hajj list be departed first.
Selly also opined that the long waiting period for Hajj was not caused by the establishment of the Hajj Financial Management Agency or BPKH in 2017. The waiting list system has been in place since 2008 because public interest in Hajj is very high, exceeding the annual quota given by Saudi Arabia.
Although Selly appreciated the breakthrough idea from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to shorten the Hajj waiting period, she asked that this discourse not be followed up. Selly encouraged the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to use other approaches to obtain additional Hajj quotas.
“If you want to reduce the waiting time more quickly, then conduct good political lobbying between the Indonesian government and the Saudi government,” said Selly.
The discourse to abolish the queuing system and implement a ticket war emerged after President Prabowo Subianto ordered the Ministry of Hajj to revolutionise Hajj organisation. Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said one idea that emerged was to abolish 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 current year’s Hajj costs and available quota, then open registration for a certain period. Anyone with financial capability and good physical condition could register directly. The pilgrims who could depart were those who paid the Hajj costs first and secured the ticket.
“The government announces this year’s Hajj cost is such and such, registration opens from this date to that date, those who want to go on Hajj, please pay. Like a ‘ticket war’,” said Irfan when opening the National Working Meeting on Hajj Worship Organisation for 1447 Hijriah in Tangerang, Banten, as uploaded on the Ministry of Hajj’s YouTube account on Wednesday, 8 April 2026.