Prabowo receives Hajj report from supervisory team at Hambalang

President Prabowo Subianto received the Hajj Supervisory Team (Timwas Haji) and several ministers, including Minister of Hajj Mochamad Irfan Yusuf and Deputy Minister of Hajj Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, at his private residence in Hambalang, Bogor Regency, on Wednesday afternoon. During the meeting, President Prabowo was presented with a report on the implementation of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi stated that the President had fulfilled a request from Commission VIII, the Hajj Supervisory Team, and the Ministry of Hajj to report on the 2026 Hajj operations. Deputy Minister Dahnil explained that President Prabowo wished to hear the results of evaluations and improvements made during the pilgrimage.

"There are around 20 improvement points we have made, and these will be conveyed to the President. The President’s note is that the dream of the majority of Muslims must be executed well, and today we want to report on the Hajj implementation," Dahnil said.

Speaking separately in Malang, East Java, Dahnil elaborated that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had gathered several notes for evaluation, including the mobilisation of pilgrims in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna) and the health eligibility (istitha’ah) policy. He acknowledged that the health eligibility policy remained a critical note because the mortality rate among pilgrims, particularly from East Java, was still high despite a decline from the previous year.

Dahnil reported that the number of Hajj pilgrims from East Java who died in 2025 reached 104, while in 2026 the figure dropped to 65. Consequently, the Ministry will tighten health requirements for citizens intending to perform the pilgrimage in the 2027 Hajj season. "Next year we will be more selective; for instance, those with indications of dementia will be barred from departing, and those with kidney disease, tuberculosis, and so on will be ensured they cannot depart," he said.