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Government promises to lower haj prices in 2025
After several issues that riddled this year's haj program, including uneven quota allocation and subpar facilities, the religious affairs minister has promised to reduce prices for the 2025 program without compromising on service quality.
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A group of Muslims prepares to circumambulate a Kaaba replica on May 4, 2024, at the Almahmudah Manasik Training Center in South Tangerang, Banten. The facility offers Indonesian Muslims a chance to rehearse the haj rituals before they go on the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (AFP/Adek Berry)
T
he government has promised to reduce the administered price for next year’s haj without compromising service quality, following heavy scrutiny of the management of last year’s pilgrimage over allegations including the misuse of the pilgrim quota.
“We discussed ways to make our pilgrims more comfortable and relaxed as well as the trip to become more affordable,” Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar said in a statement on Friday, after a closed-door meeting on managing haj 2025 at the presidential palace complex in Central Jakarta that deputy minister Muhammad Syafi’i also attended.
“However, affordability doesn’t mean reducing service quality, so the trip will maintain its efficiency and effectiveness,” Nasaruddin said.
He added that the ministry would review several organizational aspects of next year’s haj to lower costs, such as by finding alternative flights and reducing the duration of stay, as instructed by President Prabowo Subianto.
Also present at Friday’s meeting were State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, special presidential adviser on haj management Muhadjir Effendy and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, who hails from the Gerindra Party.
The government is slated to discuss the matter with House of Representatives Commission VIII overseeing religious and social affairs at a meeting on Monday at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta.
