Tighten the Selection of Hajj Officers 2026, Kemenhaj: Participants Who Do Not Meet the Requirements Will Be Cut Off

Saudi Arabia Hajj Organizing Officers (PPIH) kiss the Red and White flag during the departure and departure ceremony to the Holy Land at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory, Jakarta, Monday, April 28, 2025. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Hajj (Kemenhaj) has tightened the selection of Hajj officers for the implementation of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage. Participants in education and training (diklat) who do not meet the physical, disciplinary, and integrity requirements are ensured to be cut off and not sent to the Holy Land.

Deputy Commander of the 2026 Saudi Arabia PPIH Training, Colonel (Ret.) Muftiono emphasized that the participants' graduation was no longer administrative, but was based on strict evaluation during the training process.

"The main goal of the training is to form Hajj officers who are fit, disciplined, and have integrity. If one of them is not fulfilled, it will certainly be an indicator of failure," said Muftiono, quoted by Antara, Friday, January 30.

According to him, this year's training curriculum was specifically designed to translate the direction of the Minister of Hajj and Umrah so that officers are really physically and mentally prepared to serve pilgrims. The material is focused on three main pillars, namely physical fitness, high discipline, and integrity.

He added that the coaching team would not tolerate participants who were unable to meet the standards.

"On our side, who oversees training and training, the curriculum is indeed made to achieve this main goal. So it's not just a formality," he said.

This tightening of the selection is in line with the warning of Deputy Minister of Hajj Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak who from the beginning emphasized that the training center applied a semi-military method to form a strong servant mentality. Dahnil also reminded the officers to straighten out their intentions and not just take advantage of the opportunity to go on the hajj.

This firmness has been applied by striking at least six participants in the middle of the training process due to health problems and indiscipline.

Ministry of Religious Affairs spokesperson Anisa Mawardi confirmed that the final evaluation results showed that a number of participants were judged not to be eligible to depart. Although the ministry initially hoped that all participants could be sent out, the service standards set made it inevitable that a strict selection could not be avoided.

"We hope that all Hajj officers can leave. But based on the results during the training, it is not possible," said Suci.

He emphasized that the decision to remove participants was taken to ensure the quality of services to Indonesian pilgrims.

"Because we want the implementation of 2026 to produce maximum services, especially for pilgrims. So there is no compromise on standards," he said.