Ministry of Hajj coordinates with Attorney General's Office on proposed additional Hajj costs

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) states that it is currently coordinating with the Attorney General’s Office and other relevant parties regarding the legality of funding sources following the proposal for an increase in Hajj flight costs for 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE submitted by airlines. “Regarding the flight cost increase proposed by the airlines, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is currently coordinating with the Attorney General’s Office and related parties to ensure the force majeure status and the legality of the funding sources,” said Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj) Moch. Irfan Yusuf during a Working Meeting (Raker) with Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Tuesday. Gus Irfan, as he is known, explained that the increase in avtur prices and fluctuations in exchange rates are putting significant pressure on the Hajj flight financing structure. In the proposal submitted, he said, Garuda Indonesia is requesting an increase of up to Rp974.8 billion, while Saudia Airlines is requesting Rp802.8 billion. Thus, the total Hajj flight costs will rise from Rp6.69 trillion to Rp8.46 trillion, an increase of Rp1.77 trillion. “Alhamdulillah, the President has emphasised that this increase should not be borne by the pilgrims,” said Minister Irfan. Furthermore, the Minister conveyed that his side has prepared several funding alternatives. Based on Article 44 and Article 45 of Law No. 14 of 2025 on the third amendment to Law No. 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah Worship, the flight cost component for Hajj comes from the Hajj Worship Implementation Fee (BPIH). Meanwhile, the flight costs for the official kloter group come from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN). The proposal received a response from Member of Commission VIII of the DPR RI, Hidayat Nur Wahid. He highlighted differences in views from within Kemenhaj regarding the source of additional Hajj flight costs. “In the explanation from the Deputy Minister of Hajj according to the President’s directive, if there is a price difference, it will be borne by the pilgrims, but from the APBN efficiency perspective. Today, from the Minister’s explanation, we read that Rp1.77 trillion will be taken from BPIH, while the kloter officials’ costs are from APBN,” said Hidayat. “This certainly requires the same explanation to avoid confusion, because it has impacts that are not easy,” he stated.