Jakarta, NU Online
The Religious Affairs Ministry has proposed to the House of Representatives a reduction in the cost of the haj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.<>

Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said that he aimed to bring down the cost from US$3,219 to $3,193 for a trip planned for this year.

“We are lowering the cost because the price of fuel has gone down significantly,” Lukman said as quoted by kompas.com.

Lukman said he expected the House to approve the proposal when lawmakers returned from their recess period in mid-March.

“We expect that we will be able to approve the new fee in April,” Lukman said.

The ministry has rolled out a plan to revamp the country’s graft-ridden haj program.

Lukman earlier announced that the government would prioritize first-time pilgrims this year to give equal opportunities to prospective pilgrims.

Such a policy would also favor the elderly, particularly those aged 70 years or above, who had been on the waiting list for decades.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq