April 11, 2026 | 06:27 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The proposal floated by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to implement a "ticket war" mechanism to replace the Hajj waiting list system invites scrutiny from lawmakers.
House Commission VIII member Selly Andriany Gantina said Hajj operations must be based on the principle of justice, as outlined in Hajj and Umrah Law No. 14 of 2025.
"Meaning, the government must prioritize pilgrims in the existing queue that existed long before the Hajj Fund Management Board (BPKH) established," said Selly in a written statement on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chair of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) Singgih Januratmiko believed the "ticket war" system could lengthen the Hajj waiting list, as the quota remains the same while those vying for the tickets surge.
The ministry also has yet to bring up the proposal with Commission VIII as the working partner of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. He advised the government to consider various suggestions before implementing the policy.
"We must be cautious; it must be thoroughly studied," said Singgih when contacted on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Earlier, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochammad Irfan Yusuf proposed the idea to eliminate the waiting period for Hajj departures in favor of a "ticket war" or direct registration mechanism.
Irfan mentioned that this system had been previously implemented in Indonesia prior to the establishment of BPKH. Under that model, the government would announce the current year's Hajj costs and the available quota, then open registration for a specific window. Anyone with the financial means and good physical health could register directly.
"Do we need to reconsider such a thing? Certainly, this is not an easy decision to make. But as a discourse, it is certainly permissible for us to consider," said Irfan when opening the National Work Meeting on Hajj Pilgrimage 1447 Hijriah in Tangerang, Banten, as uploaded on the Ministry of Hajj's YouTube account on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
Criticisms regarding the hajj "ticket war" were also expressed by Commission VIII chair Marwan Dasopang, arguing that the system defied Hajj Law, as it calls for prospective pilgrims to register, not hunt for tickets.
Historically, the Hajj waiting period system began in Indonesia in 2008. This system was implemented because public interest in the pilgrimage was very high, consistently surpassing the annual quota provided by Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, BPKH was first established in 2017. Before that, the registration and management of Hajj funds were entirely handled by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The Hajj waiting lists across various regions in Indonesia vary significantly, ranging from a dozen years to as long as 47 years. However, starting this year, the government has equalized the waiting period for Hajj in all regions to a standard of 26 years.
Dede Leni Mardianti and Dian Rahma Fika Alnina contributed to the writing of this article
Read: Indonesia Mulls 'Ticket War' System for Hajj Pilgrimage
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