MP: Unincreased Hajj Costs Prove State's Presence in Addressing Dynamics

Jakarta - A member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission VIII, Sandi Fitrian Noor, stated that the unchanged, or even reduced, Hajj costs serve as proof that the state is present to anticipate global dynamics resulting from the Middle East conflict. He expressed appreciation for the policy from President Prabowo Subianto, as the increase in aviation fuel costs and its impact on Hajj expenses must be addressed carefully, proportionately, and fairly to avoid burdening Indonesian pilgrims. “This is concrete evidence that the state is present. Without subsidies from the Nilai Manfaat, Hajj costs could skyrocket dramatically. Therefore, our task in Commission VIII is to ensure that BPKH continuously improves its Sharia-compliant and prudent investment performance,” said Sandi in Jakarta on Thursday. “This means that if we seriously pursue efficiency and professional financial management, increases due to global wars can be dampened. We must not allow irresponsible parties to exploit war rhetoric to unilaterally raise Hajj costs,” he added. According to him, the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) manages funds of approximately Rp171 trillion. The net investment results for 2024 reached Rp11.6 trillion, but regulations still limit the maximum share investment portion to 30 percent. “The greater the investment returns, the lower the burden on pilgrims. But this must be done gradually and under strict supervision,” he said. To that end, he also appreciated BPKH’s policy of maintaining liquidity reserves equivalent to twice the total current year’s Hajj costs. If the total Hajj costs are Rp17 trillion, then the liquidity reserves reach Rp40 trillion in the form of easily liquidated Sharia deposits. “The state must act as a protector. With the optimisation of Nilai Manfaat and strong liquidity reserves, I am optimistic that Hajj costs will remain controlled,” he stated.