Proposal for Hajj Ticket Auction Not Yet Discussed with DPR

Deputy Chairman of the DPR’s Commission VIII, Singgih Januratmoko, admitted that he has never heard the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah convey plans for a ticket auction or bidding system for Hajj departures. Previously, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf expressed this proposal as one option to address the Hajj waiting period issue, which can take decades. “The government’s plan has not yet been conveyed to the DPR,” said Singgih when contacted on Friday, 10 April 2026. According to Singgih, the ticket auction system could instead lengthen the Hajj queue because each country’s quota remains the same, but the competition increases. He asked the government to reconsider this plan before implementing it fully. “We must be careful in addressing this issue. It must be studied thoroughly,” said Singgih. A similar view was expressed by Commission VIII DPR member from the Golkar faction, Atalia Praratya. She assessed that the government needs to be careful in floating such ideas because every concept voiced by officials will be responded to by the public as a policy direction. “The public needs certainty, especially regarding the organisation of the sensitive Hajj pilgrimage,” she stated. With the already long Hajj queues lasting years, she said, a speed-focused system like ticket auction cannot yet address the main problem. She encouraged the government to formulate solutions that prioritise justice and certainty for prospective pilgrims who have been waiting for more than 20 years first. Historically, the Hajj waiting system has been in place in Indonesia since 2008. This system was implemented because public interest in Hajj is very high, exceeding the annual quota given by Saudi Arabia. The Hajj queues in various regions in Indonesia vary, from a dozen to the longest 47 years. However, starting this year, the government has standardised the Hajj waiting period for all regions to 26 years. The discourse to abolish the queue system and implement ticket auction emerged after President Prabowo Subianto ordered the Ministry of Hajj to revolutionise Hajj organisation. In a working meeting with the ranks of the Red and White Cabinet at the State Palace on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, Prabowo expressed his desire to shorten the Hajj waiting period, which has long been a major issue for Muslims in Indonesia. “We are now fighting and alhamdulillah we have received reports that the Hajj queue is no longer 48 years. Starting in 2026, the longest Hajj queue will be 26 years, and I will fight to make it even shorter,” said Prabowo. Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said one idea that emerged is to abolish the waiting list system and switch to a ticket auction mechanism or direct registration. Irfan said this system was once implemented in Indonesia before the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) was established. In the past, Irfan explained, the applicable system was direct registration or ticket auction. The government at that time would announce the current year’s Hajj costs and available quota, then open registration for a certain period. Anyone with financial and good physical capability could register directly. The pilgrims who departed were those who first succeeded in paying the Hajj costs and securing tickets. “The government announces this year’s Hajj costs are such and such, registration opens from this date to that date, those who want to go on Hajj, please pay. Like a ‘ticket auction’,” said Irfan when opening the National Working Meeting on the Organisation of Hajj Pilgrimage 1447 Hijriah in Tangerang, Banten, as uploaded on the Ministry of Hajj’s YouTube account on Wednesday, 8 April 2026.