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Ministry proposes raising next year’s haj price despite criticism of management
The Religious Affairs Ministry argued that the administered price for the haj needs to be increased next year, citing an expected increase in the United States Dollar exchange rate.
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Muslim worshippers and pilgrims gather on June 24, 2023, around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as they arrive for the annual haj pilgrimage. (AFP/Sajjad Hussain)
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he Religious Affairs Ministry has proposed raising the administered price of the haj for next year despite widespread criticism over insufficient facilities received by pilgrims during this year’s pilgrimage.
The government was planning to increase next year’s haj price from Rp 90 million (US$5,783) to Rp 105 million per person, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas recently told members of House of Representatives Commission VIII that oversees religious affairs.
The minister cited an expected increase of the United States Dollar exchange rate as the reason behind the 16-percent raise proposal.
“We predicted the US Dollar will continue to rise up to around Rp 16,000 next year, and we make our haj budget estimation based on such assumptions,” Yaqut told the lawmakers during a recent working meeting.
As of Thursday, the exchange rate stood at Rp 15,500 per dollar.
Yaqut, however, did not specify how much of the Rp 105 million price tag was to be paid out of pocket by pilgrims and how much would be subsidized by the Haj Fund Management Agency (BPKH).
Read also: Minister advises Muslims to go on haj only once to reduce queue
