Chairman of DPR Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Body Appreciates 2026 Hajj Implementation, Notes Issues with Tents and Sanitation

The Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Body (BKSAP), Syahrul Aidi Maazat, has expressed appreciation for the implementation of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage. According to him, this year’s pilgrimage management was significantly better than in previous years, both in terms of services and pilgrim management.

“In general, this year’s Hajj implementation is much better than previous years. I experienced this firsthand as a pilgrim, but for future improvements, there are several notes that I believe must be addressed,” Syahrul Aidi stated in a press release on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.

He observed significant improvements across various stages of the pilgrimage, noting that service aspects—ranging from departures, transportation, and accommodation to catering and healthcare services—were more organised. He noted that this progress indicates systemic improvements in Hajj governance, including more effective coordination among field officers.

Furthermore, he revealed that one of the key indicators of the 2026 Hajj success was the significant decrease in the number of pilgrim fatalities. He assessed that this reflects the thorough preparation and planning undertaken well before the pilgrimage season began.

Nevertheless, Syahrul acknowledged that several technical challenges were still experienced by pilgrims, such as accommodation facilities in Medina, the execution of ‘mabit’ (overnight stays), the stoning of the Jamarat, and the quality of tents and sanitation facilities (MCK).

Regarding Medina, he noted that pilgrims felt there needs to be a standard for the space allocated per person in accommodations, as many complained about overcrowding—an issue he experienced personally. In Mina, he noted that the tents were too crowded, and while staying overnight in Mina is a lengthy process, the mattresses provided were very small, though he acknowledged that certain external factors in Mina are unavoidable.

“When there are 300 pilgrims in a single tent, we must calculate how many sanitation facilities are required, both in Arafat and Mina. Meanwhile, the catering has improved significantly; there is no longer any issue with spoiled food, and the flavours are well-suited to the Indonesian palate,” he concluded.