We guarantee that the hajj cost will be set at an efficient level in the sense that the amount of money paid by pilgrims is based on the need for the pilgrims themselves.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Ministry of Religious Affairs guarantees that the 2011 hajj pilgrimage cost will be set at an efficient level so that it would not put a heavy burden on pilgrims, an official said.

"We guarantee that the hajj cost will be set at an efficient level in the sense that the amount of money paid by pilgrims is based on the need for the pilgrims themselves," Director for Hajj Funds Management of the Religious Affairs Ministry Achmad Djunaidi said here on Monday.

Achmad was speaking to a training session for officials to be charged as hajj pilgrimage organizers (PPIH) at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory.

He said that the government had formulated the amount of hajj pilgrimage cost whose total would not burden pilgrims. Yet, it is still under discussion between the House of Representatives (DPR) and the government.

It is expected that the government and the House would already have set the amount of the haj pilgrimage cost in the middle of this month.

"If the total amount of the hajj pilgrimage cost has been agreed by the government and the DPR, it will be sent to the head of state for which the president will issue a decree," Achmad said.

On the amount of the hajj pilgrimage cost this year, Achmad was reluctant to disclose it, asking that people just wait for the final decision by the government.

"This year, the cost increased slightly if compared with that in the previous year. But its range with that of last is not too big," he said.

He said that the cost components having increased included room fees, lodging fees, general services and flight costs.

Based on Law No. 13 / 2008 on the organization of hajj pilgrimage, the amount of hajj cost is set every year based on a presidential decree. It is based on the suggestion of the religious affairs minister that has been approved by the House of Representatives.

The hajj pilgrimages cost would be used to fund the operation in the organizing the hajj pilgrims.

(A014)

Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2011