Deputy Minister Vows Clean Hajj Governance Free from Irregularities
Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak has affirmed his institution’s commitment to cleansing hajj governance from deviant practices that harm the public.
“There must no longer be any room for old practices that disadvantage pilgrims. The Ministry of Hajj must become a new home with a new work culture — clean, professional, transparent and service-oriented,” Dahnil said during an unannounced inspection of the East Jakarta Ministry of Hajj office on Monday.
East Jakarta is one of the areas with the largest number of prospective hajj pilgrims in DKI Jakarta.
Based on findings by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) and public complaints over recent years, there have been a number of reports concerning alleged irregularities in hajj services in the area, including issues of mahram manipulation and other deviant practices.
The deputy minister said these conditions were among the reasons he went directly to inspect services and issue a warning to all staff.
“I deliberately came in person to ensure that services to pilgrims are truly running as they should,” he said.
According to him, the transfer of hajj management to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah must become a momentum to break the chain of deviant practices while building service governance with integrity from the centre to the regions.
The deputy minister stressed that, in line with the directive of President Prabowo Subianto, instructions had been given from the outset that the transformation of hajj administration should not stop at institutional change but be followed by fundamental changes in work culture and the integrity of the apparatus.
“The message is clear. Those who are ready to change, let us together build the Ministry of Hajj and provide the best service to pilgrims. But for anyone who still maintains the old culture and plays with pilgrims’ rights, please leave,” he said.
Dahnil emphasised that there is no tolerance for brokerage practices, administrative manipulation, illegal levies, or abuse of authority in hajj services. Every public report and audit finding will be followed up in accordance with applicable regulations.
He also asked all Ministry of Hajj staff to make the interests of pilgrims the primary orientation of service. According to him, the hajj transformation ordered by President Prabowo must be felt by the public through services that are increasingly easy, transparent, fair and free from transactional practices.
“Pilgrims come to the Ministry of Hajj office to obtain service and certainty, not to become objects of transaction. Therefore, no party may take advantage by playing with pilgrims’ rights. This is what we will continue to clean up,” the deputy minister said.