Indonesia Can’t Pull a Fast One on Hajj Pilgrim Allocation from Saudi Arabia
Presidential Special Advisor on Hajj Affairs, Muhadjir Effendy, made it clear that Indonesia can’t mess with the hajj pilgrim allocation already agreed upon in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Arabian government. He said this during a hearing on the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas for 2024 at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court, Tuesday (1/9/2026).
“Our regulations gotta match up with the rules in Saudi. Obviously, we have to obey what the Saudi government decides,” Muhadjir said. He confirmed that the whole 2024 hajj operation was based on the MoU, and shot down any chance of changing the mix between regular and special pilgrims.
Muhadjir also brought up what happened in 2022, when Indonesia got an extra 10,000 quota spots but couldn’t make it happen-timing was off, funding needed parliament’s green light, and the accommodation in Mecca, Medina, and Armuzna just wasn’t ready. He assured there was no financial loss to the state, even though Indonesia missed out on using those slots.
In his testimony, Muhadjir spilled that an association of Special Hajj Organizers (PIHK) pushed for the extra quota to be turned into invited pilgrims. After coordinating with Ministry of Religious Affairs staff and checking in with President Jokowi through the Cabinet Secretary, no one objected, but the final call still depended on Saudi Arabia’s government giving the nod.
https://www.gelora.co/2026/09/