“Yes, BP Haji does not agree to sending Hajj pilgrims by ship,” BP Haji expert staff member Ichsan Marsha stated in Padang City, West Sumatra, on Saturday.
He explained that the proposal essentially conflicts with the agency’s commitment to proffering the best possible services and experiences for Indonesian pilgrims.
Marsha noted that President Prabowo Subianto had instructed BP Haji—which will take over Hajj organizing duties from the Religious Affairs Ministry next year—to find ways to further reduce the travel expenses for Indonesians making the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
On the other hand, he emphasized that implementing the sea route proposal would make it harder for the government to achieve its goal of reducing Indonesian pilgrims’ stay in Saudi Arabia from 40 to 30 days—a key step to help lower costs.
“In short, the idea of using ships does not align with our mission to reduce Hajj costs and shorten pilgrims' stay in the Holy Land,” he emphasized.
Earlier, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar confirmed that his ministry had initiated talks on the idea of sea pilgrimage routes. However, he stressed that the government would first conduct a thorough study on the time and financial aspects before making a decision.
“This is actually not a new option. We still need to consider a range of factors, including the fact that sea travel tends to take much longer,” he remarked in Jakarta on Thursday (July 10).
The minister revealed that several companies have approached the government, offering to support the plan by renting ships from third parties.
“Many companies have come to my office presenting their ideas. However, they do not have ships yet,” he noted.
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Translator: Muhammad Z, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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