Indonesian Lawmaker Criticizes Ministry of Hajj for Lack of Reform
Indonesia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is facing scrutiny from a key parliamentary committee over concerns that it has failed to demonstrate meaningful change in its approach to organizing the annual Hajj pilgrimage. A senior lawmaker has voiced skepticism about the ministry’s progress, suggesting a continuation of practices from the previous Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Organizations (PHU).
A member of DPR Commission VIII, marwan Dasopang, publicly expressed his concerns during a joint working meeting with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Monday, October 27, 2025, at the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta. “We see that the way of presenting this has not changed, it is indeed still the Director General of PHU’s way of presenting it. The pattern is still the same,” Dasopang stated. He further added, “We haven’t seen the enthusiasm of the Ministry of Hajj. Not yet.”
The criticism extends to a lack of clarity surrounding key logistical aspects of the Hajj. Dasopang revealed that the committee is currently unsure how the process of finalizing Hajj arrangements will be completed. A important point of contention is the verification mechanism for pilgrims eligible to participate. “We don’t know which one should be verified, based on the waiting list quota or the size of the Muslim community per province,” he explained.
Transparency in the selection of air transportation providers is also under question. Moreover, the recently announced reduction in Hajj costs – a mere IDR 1 million – has been deemed insufficient by the committee. Dasopang pointed out that a more ample decrease is needed, potentially up to IDR 6 trillion, if the Ministry intends to address what he termed a “bancakan” – a colloquial term referring to potential budget irregularities. “This is not yet included in the bancakan figure, if we enter the bancakan figure it must decrease by Rp. 5 trillion from Rp. 17 trillion. So if the bancakan is Rp. 5 trillion plus Rp. 1 trillion, that means Rp. 6 trillion must decrease, if this is the spirit of the Ministry of Haj,” he asserted.
The lawmaker emphasized the need for transparency in determining the Hajj service packages offered to pilgrims. He expressed concern that a lack of clarity could fuel public suspicion of potential mismanagement. “what class is our service, the package we take. Maybe it’s class C minus why? Because the dollar goes up, SAR goes up, but it goes down by Rp. 1 million, that’s Rp. 1 trillion,sir,it’s still possible,but what we take,we don’t understand,means it’s a class C minus package,maybe,” Dasopang questioned.
Looking ahead to the 2026 Hajj, Dasopang urged the Ministry to prioritize significant improvements in both service quality and cost efficiency. He highlighted two key areas of concern: the perceived disorganization of current services and the rising costs coupled with existing backlogs. “One is regarding the shambles of the service. The second is that prices have risen and it is considered that there are a lot of backlogs. Both of these must be answered at the Ministry of Hajj. If not, the meaning is the same. This means there is potential for there to be another backlog,” he concluded. the committee’s concerns come amid heightened scrutiny of the Hajj pilgrimage process, as evidenced by recent investigations by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), including a search of the Directorate General of PHU’s office. [See related video: KPK Brings 3 Suitcases After Searching the Office of the Directorate General of PHU, ministry of Religion].
The pressure is now on the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to demonstrate a clear commitment to reform and transparency as it prepares for the upcoming Hajj season.
