Ministry Responds Sandiaga`s Pledge to Lower Hajj Pilgrimage Cost

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Religious Affairs responded Sandiaga Uno`s promise to decrease Hajj pilgrimage cost if the latter win the upcoming presidential election.

The ministry’s spokesman Mastuki mentioned that there are two crucial components in the financial structure of Hajj funds; accommodation and airfare, which are depended on the rupiah exchange rate against US dollar and world oil price. Thus, it could not be intervened by the government as those fully influenced by global dynamics.

“There is also cost to anticipate the rate hike of rupiah against dollar and riyal,” said Mastuki in a phone call Sunday, January 27.

He further explained that the government strived to set the cost by optimizing the related costs. The hajj cost is determined by a committee appointed by the House of Representatives (DPR) along with the ministry and the Hajj Fund Management Agency (BPKH).

The committee, he said, always set the cost in consideration to the service for the pilgrims. “But, for the hajj cost, it is adapted to those components, such as fluctuations, price hike of aircraft avtur, and accommodation cost in Saudi Arabia,” Mastuki added.

Sandiaga Uno on Saturday, January 26, at Asrama Haji Makassar pledged before housewives, workers, students, and the public to lower the Hajj pilgrimage costs if he and Prabowo Subianto win the election.

CAESAR AKBAR