Kemenhaj drops deferred replacement payment scheme for special hajj

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has scrapped the deferred replacement payment mechanism in special hajj operations after an evaluation found it had been abused by some special hajj organizers. Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said the loophole was used when a departure was canceled, then the seat was reassigned to another pilgrim outside the proper queue number or quota number. He said the practice opened the door to seat sales at unreasonable prices. The policy was announced during the National Working Meeting of the Indonesian Association of Special Hajj Organizers in Malang, East Java, on Saturday. From now on, special hajj pilgrims eligible to depart will be only those matching the quota sequence, as part of efforts to improve governance so it is fairer, more transparent and accountable.