Mataram – The Chairman of the Indonesian Advocates Movement Council urged the Minister of Hajj and Umrah to be cautious in proposing the idea of a “Hajj Ticket War” as it could create injustice and unrest.

Speaking during the inauguration and swearing-in of new lawyers at the West Nusa Tenggara High Court, the Chairman reminded the Government not to easily propose ideas without mature consideration and thought.

It was stated that the ‘Hajj Ticket War’ refers to the scramble for hajj tickets outside the regular hajj departure scheme. While the waiting period for regular hajj can reach 10 to 20 years, the “Hajj Ticket War” would operate on a “first come, first served” basis.

According to the Chairman, the statement or idea from the Minister of Hajj could not only cause unrest but could also be dangerous and create injustice for two reasons.

First, the government’s implementation of the hajj pilgrimage has often caused crucial problems and injured the sense of justice among prospective pilgrims. Several times in the past, officials responsible for the hajj, namely several Ministers of Religion, have been implicated in corruption.

Ministers implicated in corruption cases related to the implementation of the hajj pilgrimage include Ministers of Religion Said Agil Husin Almunawar, Suryadharma Ali, and Yaqut Cholil Qoumas when the pilgrimage was managed by the Indonesian Ministry of Religion.

According to the Chairman, the implementation of hajj and umrah pilgrimages has often gone wrong, even victimizing thousands of people, and the government has neglected to find solutions.

For example, the First Travel case, which affected 63,000 pilgrims who failed to depart, and the government has not provided any solution since the Ministry of Religion was held by Lukman Hakim Syaifudin, Fachrul Razi, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Nazaruddin Umar, and up to the current Minister of Hajj.

Even assets from First Travel, derived from pilgrims’ money, were returned to the state, and the government remained silent. All those Ministers could do nothing, in other words, were powerless.

Another example is Abu Tours, whose number of victims also reached tens of thousands. There have been no solutions for any of these, even though there is a constitutional responsibility of the state involved.

“Why do I say there is a constitutional responsibility of the state regarding the failure or non-departure of 63 thousand umrah pilgrims? Because the Government must be just. First Travel is a Limited Liability Company that obtained a license from the Government and provided a guarantee deposit to the Government for sending umrah pilgrims,” he said.

“But why does the Government wash its hands when problems arise? Why is the treatment different, for example towards PT Lapindo whose victims were compensated by the Government. PT Bank Century and PT Jiwasraya were bailed out. But why were the victims of PT First Travel not compensated?” he added.

Second, the idea of the Minister of Hajj to introduce a “Hajj Ticket War” could create injustice and unhealthy competition because it would lead to a scramble where those with money and connections would get the hajj tickets. Exactly like the scramble for concert tickets, depending on who has money and connections.

The Chairman, who also acts as a lawyer for thousands of victims of the First Travel umrah pilgrims, further urged the government to focus on improving the implementation of hajj and umrah in terms of regulations, human resources, institutions, and overall services.

“This is important so that pilgrims performing hajj or umrah are guaranteed safety, comfort, and health protection, from their home country, during the journey to the holy land, until their return home,” he said.

In another part, he also reminded the lawyers to always maintain their mandate and integrity as law enforcers. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of strengthening basic legal knowledge, practical knowledge, competence, networking, and mental resilience in carrying out their duties as lawyers.

West Nusa Tenggara High Court

The West Nusa Tenggara High Court (Pengadilan Tinggi Nusa Tenggara Barat) is a judicial institution located in Mataram, Indonesia, established to oversee the appellate legal process within the province of West Nusa Tenggara. As part of Indonesia’s national court system, it was formed following the country’s judicial reforms and serves as an intermediate court between the district courts and the Supreme Court. Its history is tied to the development of the modern Indonesian legal framework in the post-independence era.

Indonesian Ministry of Religion

The Indonesian Ministry of Religion is a government institution established in 1946, shortly after the nation’s independence, to manage religious affairs and promote harmony among the country’s diverse faiths. It oversees religious education, law, and pilgrimage services, reflecting Indonesia’s official recognition of six religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

First Travel

“First Travel” does not correspond to a widely recognized historical place or cultural site. It is likely a modern travel agency or a brand name, and therefore does not have a significant historical background to summarize. For a meaningful summary, please provide the name of a specific landmark, monument, or cultural destination.

Abu Tours

“Abu Tours” is not a specific historical place or cultural site, but rather a common name for tour companies, particularly in Egypt (often associated with Abu Simbel). If referring to **Abu Simbel**, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Egypt featuring two massive rock-cut temples built by Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE. The temples were famously relocated in the 1960s to save them from flooding caused by the creation of Lake Nasser.

PT Lapindo

“PT Lapindo” refers to PT Lapindo Brantas, an Indonesian energy company that became widely known due to a major industrial disaster. In 2006, a mud volcano known as **Lusi** began erupting near Sidoarjo, East Java, during a natural gas drilling operation; it has since submerged villages and displaced thousands in one of the world’s largest ongoing mudflow disasters. The site is now a stark cultural landmark of the human and environmental cost, with debates continuing over its cause—whether triggered by drilling or a distant earthquake—and corporate responsibility.

PT Bank Century

PT Bank Century, originally founded in 1989 as Bank CIC, was a mid-sized Indonesian commercial bank. It became internationally known during the 2008 global financial crisis when it suffered a massive collapse due to alleged fraud and mismanagement, leading to a controversial government bailout. The scandal, often referred to as the “Centurygate” or “Bank Century bailout case,” sparked major political and legal debates in Indonesia over the use of public funds.

PT Jiwasraya

PT Jiwasraya is not a place or cultural site, but a state-owned Indonesian life insurance company founded in 1859 during the Dutch colonial era. It is historically significant as one of the oldest financial institutions in Indonesia, originally established to provide pensions for Dutch civil servants. The company has faced significant financial difficulties and a major restructuring in recent years.