Head of Hajj Oversight Team Finds Inadequate Facilities During Spot Check at Hotel in Mecca

The Chairman of the Haj Oversight Team (Timwas Haji) of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, uncovered a number of crucial problems concerning the suitability of facilities during a spot check at the Buruz Hidayah Hotel in Mecca. He obtained the findings through a surprise inspection of the Indonesian pilgrims’ accommodation at the hotel on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

Facilities highlighted by Cucun include waterlogged rooms, elevator malfunctions, and limited ablution facilities and an area to dry clothes. Cucun said that Buruz Hidayah Hotel had already been listed on Timwas’ special notes from the outset because its location is quite far from Masjid al-Haram and it was seldom used, so many of its facilities were deemed inadequate.

“At the outset, the lift in Tower 4 was problematic. Then there was a design issue with bathrooms that are flush with the external floor so water overflow soaks the carpet. Moreover, one room housed five people. Over time, the carpet began to smell and disturbed the pilgrims’ comfort,” said Cucun.

The Deputy Speaker of the DPR also highlighted the shortage of adequate ablution facilities near the hotel’s musalla. The condition forced pilgrims to lift their feet to wash at a handwash basin to perform ablutions.

In addition, the absence of a dedicated area to wash and dry clothes for 1,800 pilgrims in a single tower was problematic, given the ban on drying clothes on the rooftop or basement levels (rubanah).

“Before deciding which hotels to use in the future, supporting facilities must be confirmed. The musalla, ablution facilities, washing facilities, and drying areas must be adequate,” he said.

To prevent a repeat of accommodation problems year after year through trial and error, Cucun urged the government to reform the pemondokan rental system. He proposed that hotels with proven good service and proximity to Masjid al-Haram be contracted on a long-term basis.

“We have experience renting at Bakhutmah or Jarwal, which are located well, but in subsequent years they are released again. Later, we in the DPR will seek solutions on how to ensure that hotels that have proven good service can be booked not only for one year but contracted long-term, for example five or ten years,” he said.

Despite the strong notes on accommodation, the Hajj Timwas of the DPR RI also offered high praise for the improvement in the quality of the pilgrims’ meals this year. Cucun said the rice served was no longer hard and the side dishes were cooked with Nusantara spices that suited Indonesian pilgrims’ tastes.

Regarding the Buruz Hidayah Hotel’s distance, Cucun confirmed that the compensation in the form of a direct bus route (Selawat) service with no transit has been implemented in line with the commitment. “Alhamdulillah, the route goes straight to Jabal Ka’bah Terminal, and the road access is not too far from Masjid al-Haram,” he said.