We have conducted a joint evaluation, and we agree that the disbursed payment must be proportional to services that we will acceptMecca, Saudi Arabia (ANTARA) - Indonesian and Malaysian Hajj missions have met and discussed various aspects concerning the Hajj organisation, including the recent Hajj fee hike imposed by the Saudi authority.
"We have discussed the 2022 Hajj organisation, discussed this year's Hajj, then exchanged our views and evaluation, as well as exchanged information about Hajj services," Religious Affairs Ministry's Director General of Hajj and Umrah Hilman Latief stated here, Thursday.
The meeting, organized at the Indonesian Hajj Office's Mecca work section, was attended by the Indonesian Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) Head Arsad Hidayat, Indonesian Consulate General in Jidda's Hajj Consul Nasrullah Jasam, and other officials.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Hajj pilgrims fund board Tabung Haji Head Dato' Sri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman and other officials represented the Malaysian Hajj mission at the meeting.
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During the meeting, he clarified that despite the Hajj missions having concurred with the increase in Hajj fee, from SAR1,800 (US$478) to SAR5,656 (US$1,505) per person, the price increase must be proportional to the services provided.
He expressed optimism that the required fee would not burden Hajj pilgrims.
"We have conducted a joint evaluation, and we agree that the disbursed payment must be proportional to services that we will accept," Farid noted.
Both parties also discussed long-term Hajj funding and future projections to increase or decrease the price, the director general said, adding that the Hajj missions have agreed to discuss further respective Hajj budget allocation.
Meanwhile, Syed Saleh expressed his concurrence to the commitment to intensify dialog with his Indonesian counterpart.
"We have conducted a preliminary discussion about the Hajj fee. We agree to follow up the discussion on how to manage the Hajj fee increase without burdening prospective Hajj pilgrims in the future," he remarked.
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Despite commending the improvement during this year's Hajj service, the Tabung Haji head said that they needed to review the price increase and its planned allocations.
"As this year's Hajj was announced abruptly, we have less time to discuss. In the next Hajj, we can discuss with more time about what we will get in return for the price increase," Syed Saleh noted.
Both Hajj missions have agreed to organize a follow-up meeting to enhance cooperation to improve Hajj services in the future, he added.
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Translator: Desi Purnamawati, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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