Minister Responds to Criticism of Hajj Ticket Auction: If It's Premature, We'll Close It for Now
Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, is not bothered by criticism of the proposal for a Hajj ticket auction intended to address the increasingly long queues for Hajj pilgrims.
Irfan admits that the proposal is currently under discussion within the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and he takes responsibility for it.
“This ticket auction is indeed a concept we’re discussing in the Ministry of Hajj, and if asked who is responsible, I’m the one who first floated the term ‘ticket auction’,” Irfan said during a working meeting at Commission VIII of the DPR on Tuesday (14/4).
However, his side claims not to mind closing the proposal if it is considered premature. According to Irfan, his side will first focus on the implementation of Hajj 2026, which is about to begin.
“And if it’s considered too premature, we’ll close it for now until today, while we complete the Hajj that’s right in front of us,” he said.
Previously, Irfan revealed that the ticket auction idea stemmed from progressive thinking within the Ministry, including from the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah.
The proposal was intended as a solution so that prospective pilgrims do not have to wait too long to depart for the Holy Land.
“A thought emerged: is such a long queue necessary? Couldn’t we think about returning to the era before BPKH (Hajj Financial Management Agency) existed? Before BPKH, insha’Allah there were no queues,” Irfan said at the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) for Consolidation of Hajj Worship Implementation for 1447 H/2025 AD, held at the Grand El Hajj Hajj Dormitory (Cipondoh Hajj Dormitory), Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday (8/4).
However, the proposal has received much criticism from various parties. Member of Commission VIII of the DPR from the Golkar Faction, Atalia Praratya, rejects the Hajj ticket auction concept of first-come-first-served.
Atalia believes the proposal ignores principles of justice for pilgrims. Because only those with financial capability and super-fast gadgets will obtain the tickets.
According to Atalia, the ticket auction blatantly contradicts Law No. 8 of 2019 on Hajj and Umrah Worship Implementation, which adopts the first-come-first-served principle based on registration portion number (NOPORS).
“If the ticket auction system is implemented, those who will win are those with super-fast gadgets, the best internet connection, and instant financial capability,” Atalia said in her statement on Friday (10/4).
“What about mothers in the village who have been saving for 20 years? What about our grandparents who are tech-illiterate? They will be sidelined,” she added.
The Indonesian Association of Muslim Hajj and Umrah Organisers (Amphuri) views the ticket auction as potentially eliminating a sense of justice because there are millions of prospective pilgrims who have been waiting for decades.
Secondly, they argue that less affluent prospective pilgrims will find it hard to compete, and there is potential for an increase in the price of regular Hajj packages without subsidies from Hajj queue benefits, potentially around Rp90-100 million or more.
“Every public policy, especially those concerning worship and millions of people, needs to be studied in depth to remain aligned with principles of justice, legal certainty, and the welfare of the ummah,” said Amphuri Secretary General Zaky Zakaria Anshary.