Hajj Queue System Overhauled to Ensure Transparency, Says Minister
The national waiting list for the Hajj pilgrimage has reached approximately 5.8 million people and continues to grow annually, with new registrants consistently exceeding 200,000 per year.
Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj) Mochamad Irfan Yusuf confirmed the government is continuously improving the Hajj queue system to ensure transparency and fairness for prospective pilgrims, including those in Papua Barat and Papua Barat Daya provinces. One key measure is a comprehensive verification of the waiting list data to ensure all listed names are legitimate candidates.
Speaking during an evaluation meeting for the departure and return of pilgrims for the 1447 Hijriah/2026 AD season in Sorong, Papua Barat Daya, on Friday, the minister explained that the verification process checks the status of each candidate, including tracing whether they have passed away, moved domicile, or transferred their rights to an heir in accordance with regulations. “This year we ensure there will be no more queue-swapping or misuse of the repayment system. If a special Hajj candidate cancels their travel payment, their quota is immediately given to the next candidate in the queue,” he stated.
Menhaj Irfan emphasised the government’s commitment to preventing individuals from performing the pilgrimage repeatedly within a short period. He noted that Law Number 14 of 2024 stipulates that pilgrims who have already performed the Hajj may only register again after 18 years and must follow the standard waiting list mechanism. “With this rule, the opportunity for someone to perform Hajj two, three, or more times in a short period is practically non-existent,” he said.
The minister added that the high waiting list reflects the strong public enthusiasm for performing the pilgrimage. He detailed the distribution of candidates across various districts, including 2,000 people in Manokwari, 1,402 in Sorong, 1,163 in Fakfak, 622 in Kaimana, 433 in Sorong Selatan, 233 in Teluk Wondama, and 130 in Manokwari Selatan. “I hope the central government can provide strategic policy support to improve the quality of Hajj services in Papua Barat and Papua Barat Daya, in line with the increasing number of candidates on the waiting list,” he said.