Hajj official applicants reach 75,000, CAT tests to be held in two waves

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has reported that more than 75,000 people have applied for the 2027 Saudi Arabian Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) positions, leading to the decision to conduct the Computer Assisted Test (CAT) in two waves.

“The number of applicants is very large. Therefore, we have organised the CAT implementation into two waves so that the selection process can continue while administrative verification can still be carried out meticulously,” said the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organising, Puji Raharjo, in Jakarta on Friday.

The two-wave arrangement is part of an adjustment to the selection stages to ensure that the verification process remains careful, while participants who have met the requirements and are within the quota can proceed to the CAT stage immediately.

According to Puji, the division into waves does not change the selection standards or provisions. Every participant must still meet the requirements and fall within the 3N quota to participate in the CAT.

“No standards have been reduced. Every participant still undergoes the same process and provisions. What we are maintaining is ensuring that all stages run in an orderly, careful, and fair manner,” he said.

Puji requested that participants who have not yet taken the first wave of the CAT remain calm and not rush to conclusions regarding their participation status in the selection.

“Not participating in Wave I does not mean you have failed. The verification process is still ongoing. Participants who meet the criteria and are within the quota will have the opportunity to take the CAT in the next wave,” Puji stated.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah ensured that the two-wave CAT arrangement is part of an effort to maintain the quality of the 2027 PPIH selection process. The high number of applicants serves as both a challenge and an incentive for the Ministry to ensure every stage is conducted objectively, transparently, and accountably.

Participants are urged to stay updated on the selection progress and monitor official information through the Ministry’s communication channels.