REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) considers the fairness of the fees charged to each Hajj candidate to be key to maintaining the financial sustainability of Hajj.

“The thing to understand is the need to maintain the financial sustainability of Hajj. At present, the value of the benefits of the investment generated by the allocation is still greater to be used to subsidize the worshippers who leave today,” said BPKH Executive Board Member Acep Jayaprawira in the dialogue of Merdeka Barat Forum 9 (FMB9) on the theme “Finding Solutions for Cost and Waiting Period of Hajj” which was followed online in Jakarta on Monday.

Acep revealed that Indonesia's Hajj costs are the lowest in Southeast Asia, one of which is the result of cross-subsidisation and investment of Hajj funds.

He continued the ideal ratio of subsidies is 70-30. That is, ideally the departing Hajj candidate bears 70 percent of the Hajj Prayer Travel Fee (BPIH/BiPIH) and the BPKH bears the rest of the value of the benefits.