Parliamentary Hajj Oversight Committee Urges Officials to Exercise Caution to Prevent Recurrence of Firdaus Case
The Parliamentary Hajj Oversight Committee (Timwas Haji DPR) for 2024 has issued a statement regarding the death of Muhammad Firdaus, a 72-year-old Indonesian hajj pilgrim from the JKG-27 contingent, who was reported missing in Saudi Arabia before being found deceased.
Through Marwan Dasopang, a member of the Timwas Haji DPR and chairman of Commission VIII, the committee expressed regret over the incident. He assessed that there was negligence in the Firdaus case.
“We are saddened and distressed. A pilgrim went missing, and when found, he was already deceased. When it involves human life, it seems like there was neglect. Yet we have trained officials deployed here. When a pilgrim becomes lost, we do not know what happens to them, and that is what deeply troubles us. This should not happen. Death itself is not our concern, but death due to negligence is extremely troubling,” Dasopang said in Mecca on Saturday evening (23 May).
To prevent the issue from recurring, Dasopang urged hajj officials to exercise caution in carrying out their duties. He called on them to carefully distinguish between pilgrims capable of performing their worship independently and those requiring supervision.
“Elderly pilgrims must not be allowed to move about unattended. Some cannot ask for help, cannot read, and some lack the physical ability to move. This must not happen, particularly in the days ahead. Because at Arafah, conditions resemble a sea of humanity, similarly at Muzdalifah, and likewise on the route to the Jamarat at Mina. Officials must be vigilant and activate all checkpoints to ensure no pilgrim becomes lost,” he stated.
Muhammad Firdaus Akhlan, the 72-year-old Indonesian pilgrim who had gone missing, was found deceased in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on 22 May. His body was discovered by Saudi Arabian authorities in the hilly Jabal Qudai area, approximately 2.5 kilometres from his accommodation in the Misfalah district.