Focus on Serving Pilgrims: Hajj Officials for 2026 Urged to Avoid Flexing in the Holy Land

Jakarta – Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah (Wamenhaj), Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, has reminded all hajj officials to avoid excessive use of social media, especially while on duty in the Holy Land. He stressed that they must always prioritise services to Indonesian hajj pilgrims, as their primary task is to accompany and protect the pilgrims during their hajj pilgrimage. “I hope that fellow officials focus on their duties to accompany and safeguard the pilgrims,” said Wamenhaj Dahnil after seeing off hundreds of members of the Madinah Regional Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) at the Pondok Gede Hajj Hostel in East Jakarta on Friday (17/4/2026). He also touched on the phenomenon of “flexing” or showing off activities on social media, deeming such actions unnecessary for hajj officials while performing their duties, whether in Indonesia or the Holy Land. “No need to flex all sorts of things, showing off activities,” said Dahnil. Nevertheless, his side does not prohibit the use of social media altogether, as it has become a common channel for disseminating information. Therefore, Dahnil advised hajj officials to utilise social media wisely and appropriately, namely as a medium for da’wah and educating hajj pilgrims. “For da’wah, meaning to inform and educate. In fact, we encourage all officials to conduct education via social media,” he said. According to Dahnil, the dissemination of positive and accurate information is greatly needed, especially for the families of pilgrims in Indonesia who are awaiting news from the Holy Land. “So, families in the homeland need information that reassures them and maintains their condition,” emphasised this Gerindra Party politician. The 2026 Saudi Arabian PPIH will be dispatched for the first time today, Friday (17/4/2026). A total of 348 officials will depart from Soekarno-Hatta Airport to King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah. Before departure, the hajj officials attended briefing at the Pondok Gede Hajj Hostel in East Jakarta on Thursday night (16/4/2026).