Parliament Rejects Hajj 'Ticket Rush' Proposal: What About Tech-Illiterate Grandparents?
Members of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives from the Golkar Faction, Atalia Praratya, rejected the concept of a Hajj ticket rush on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, as proposed by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf.
Atalia assessed that the proposal ignores principles of justice for pilgrims. This is because only those with financial capability and super-fast gadgets would obtain tickets.
“If a ticket rush system is implemented, the winners will be those with super-fast gadgets, the best internet connections, and instant financial capability,” Atalia stated in her remarks on Friday (10/4).
“What about housewives in villages who have been saving for 20 years? What about our tech-illiterate grandparents? They will be sidelined,” she added.
The former wife of politician Ridwan Kamil stated that the ticket rush concept blatantly contradicts Law No. 8 of 2019 on the Organisation of Hajj and Umrah Worship, which adopts a first come, first served principle based on registration portion number (NOPORS).
Atalia explained that the current queue system allows the initial deposit funds from pilgrims (Rp 25 million) to be managed productively by the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH). The value from this management has been used to subsidise Hajj costs, thereby keeping the Hajj Organisation Cost (BPIH) low.
“If the queue system is abolished and we return to a full lump-sum payment system, the Hajj funds amounting to hundreds of trillions will dry up. Who will subsidise the pilgrims? Will Hajj costs rise drastically?” Atalia questioned.
She hopes that Commission VIII of the House of Representatives and the Ministry of Hajj do not rush to bury the queue system that has been running. According to her, the ticket rush concept must be immediately stopped if the academic study is not yet complete and has not involved broad public participation.
“This is not about innovation or being outdated. This is about protecting 5.5 million pilgrims currently in the long queue. Do not, just because we want to appear progressive, end up neglecting them,” she said.
The Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, Marwan Dasopang, questioned the legality aspect of the ticket rush proposal by the Minister of Hajj. Especially since the Hajj and Umrah Law was only enacted last year.
He rejected the notion that the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) is the culprit behind the increasingly long Hajj queue. Because initially, the agency was established to anticipate the enthusiasm of Muslim citizens wanting to go on Hajj.
“Well, if the Ministry of Hajj’s explanation implies that the long queue emerged because of BPKH. That’s not the case,” Marwan said.
Like Atalia, Marwan also believes that the ticket rush system would only benefit people with financial capability. Meanwhile, the Hajj Law has set a waiting time limit for citizens who have performed Hajj up to 10 years.
“Why is that? To give space to people who cannot compete for tickets, something like that. Therefore, if the Minister of Hajj mentions this as a concept or study, that’s fine. But the aspects mentioned earlier must be addressed. Otherwise, people will be anxious,” Marwan said.
Quoting Detik, Indonesia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, revealed that the ticket rush idea stemmed from progressive thinking within the Ministry, including from the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah.
The proposal is intended as a solution so that prospective pilgrims do not have to wait too long to depart to the Holy Land.
“An idea emerged: do we need such a long queue? Shouldn’t we think about returning to the era before BPKH existed? Before BPKH, insha’Allah, there was no queue,” the Minister said at the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) for the Consolidation of Hajj Worship Organisation for 1447 H/2025 M, held at the Grand El Hajj Hajj Dormitory (Cipondoh Hajj Dormitory), Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday (8/4).