Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Indonesia's proposal to introduce a fast-track Hajj booking system based on a direct allocation model has drawn criticism from lawmakers, prompting the government to clarify that the idea remains at an early, exploratory stage.

Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said the concept – loosely inspired by the scramble for concert tickets, which netizens dubbed a "ticket war" – is designed to allow eligible pilgrims to secure Hajj slots on a first-come, first-served basis when quotas open but has only been discussed internally within the ministry and has not been formally deliberated in parliament.

The system would effectively allow prospective pilgrims to book and pay for available quotas directly, rather than joining the country's long waiting list, which can stretch for decades.

"I acknowledge that this ticket war idea has gained attention. It is a concept currently being discussed within the ministry," Irfan told lawmakers during a hearing with House Commission VIII at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He added that he was the first to introduce the concept, but signaled openness to revising it amid growing public and parliamentary scrutiny.

"If it is considered premature, we will pause it for now as we focus on the upcoming Hajj season," he said, urging that the debate be settled following his clarification.

Lawmakers, however, raised concerns over fairness and implementation. Hidayat Nur Wahid of the Properous Justice Party said any direct allocation mechanism could not be rushed into implementation, even if limited to additional quotas.

Other legislators, including M Husni of the Gerindra Party and Selly Gantina from the PDIP, warned that the proposal could disrupt Indonesia's existing Hajj administration system.

The debate comes as Indonesia struggles with one of the world's longest Hajj waiting lists. The country receives an annual quota of around 220,000 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, the largest globally, but has about 5.7 million registered applicants nationwide.

According to Deputy Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, waiting times under the regular system can reach up to 26 years in some regions.

The backlog is partly driven by Indonesia's financing structure, which allows applicants to secure a place in line with an initial deposit despite limited annual capacity.

The government is exploring more flexible options, including a direct booking approach that would allow pilgrims to depart without waiting if they are able to immediately pay for available quotas.

"For example, if we are given a quota of 200,000, we could set a price and allow those who can pay immediately to depart," Dahnil said, while stressing that those already in the queue would remain a priority.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/hajj-ticket-war-idea-faces-backlash-over-26year-waiting-lis