January 11, 2026 | 02:51 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed that, starting this year, there will be no hajj programs without a waiting period. Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, urged the public to be cautious of parties offering instant Hajj departures, as these are likely to be illegal and potentially fraudulent.
"There is no hajj where you pay today and depart tomorrow. It doesn't exist. If someone promises immediate departure, it is definitely a scam and illegal," said Dahnil when met at the Hajj Dormitory, Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
Dahnil says that all hajj visas essentially follow a queuing system. The only exception is the Mujamalah visa, which is a direct invitation from the Saudi Arabian government. However, this visa is fully discretionary and is usually granted to individuals or groups who are considered worthy. "That is not a visa that can be bought or processed through travel agencies," he said.
This warning was conveyed by Dahnil amidst the handling of the alleged embezzlement case of hajj funds by PT NMA. He assured that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is focused on protecting pilgrims. "We will not hesitate to shut down any travel agencies or HGOs that embezzle pilgrims' funds or otherwise act in a stubborn manner," he said.
The PT NMA case is currently under review by the Office of Internal Oversight and the Inspector General. On Monday, January 5, 2026, the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Organization Control at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah carried out summons and clarifications with relevant parties in response to pilgrim complaints regarding allegations of fraud and/or embezzlement of funds during the implementation of the 2025 Furoda Hajj.
Ten pilgrims filed a complaint after the Furoda Hajj departure, which PT NMA promised, did not materialize. PT NMA, did not occur. Based on the documents and initial information received, the pilgrims and the travel agency reached an agreement on August 12, 2025, to switch to the Umrah Worship Program package. The agreement included a commitment to gradually return the pilgrims' funds. However, by the agreed deadline of December 15, 2025, the travel agency did not fulfill its obligation to return the funds to the pilgrims. This condition indicates the non-fulfillment of the agreement made and causes losses to the pilgrims.
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