DPR Oversight Team Departs for Saudi Arabia to Monitor Hajj Funds and Services

The Hajj Oversight Team of the Indonesian Parliament for 2026, led by Deputy Speaker Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, departed from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Saudi Arabia to conduct on-site inspections and ensure the realization of service commitments agreed upon by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The team’s departure was carried out in two groups on Saturday, May 16, 2026, and Sunday, May 17, 2026. The DPR Hajj Oversight Team will conduct field checks covering various crucial aspects that directly impact the comfort of pilgrims, as agreed upon during meetings.

“We will ensure everything experienced by pilgrims in Medina, both regarding their accommodations and catering, will be checked,” said Cucun before departing for Saudi Arabia on Saturday, as quoted on the DPR RI website.

The politician from PKB affirmed that the DPR Hajj Oversight Team will compare actual conditions with the agreements made during the meetings. Several key points will be highlighted, including the capacity of pilgrim placement per room and the distance of hotels to worship areas, both in Medina and Mecca.

“Including the ministry’s commitment during the meeting, that the number of pilgrims per room is a certain amount, and the distance of the hotel in Medina is also specified,” he said.

A member of the DPR Hajj Oversight Team, Selly Andriany Gantina, added that direct oversight by the DPR will cover services for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims in Medina and Mecca. The supervision will focus on areas including Markaziyah Medina and Mecca, healthcare services, catering, and the suitability of hotels used by pilgrims.

According to her, the DPR has mapped out several critical points that will be a concern during the oversight process, including hospitals related to pilgrim healthcare services, including the implementation of health insurance in cooperation with the Saudi government.

In addition to healthcare, the DPR is also highlighting the quality of food consumed by pilgrims. Selly said that catering menus that do not match Indonesian tastes have begun to be complained about and could potentially cause boredom for pilgrims while in the Holy Land.

Furthermore, the DPR received reports of hotels deemed unsuitable for reuse during the next Hajj season. These findings will be used as material for evaluation in a meeting with the Ministry of Hajj.