Imam Suhartadi, Jakarta – Indonesia has identified around 400,000 invalid records among 5.7 million prospective Hajj pilgrims currently on the national waiting list, a finding that could significantly reduce the number of people in line and shorten waiting times, a senior official said Monday.
Deputy Hajj and Umrah Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said the discrepancies were discovered as the government updated and verified its database of prospective pilgrims.
"We found invalid data among the 5.7 million Hajj registrants, with around 400,000 records identified as invalid. This means the number will eventually decline and reduce the queue," Dahnil said in Jakarta.
He did not specify the reasons the records were considered invalid.
The Hajj and Umrah Ministry is conducting a more detailed review of the records as part of a broader effort to clean up the national Hajj database.
Dahnil said the data update could mean the actual average waiting time faced by prospective pilgrims is considerably shorter than the current administrative estimate of 26 years.
"The waiting period for pilgrims in the queue could be shorter, averaging around 14 to 15 years," he said.
According to Dahnil, Indonesia's national Hajj waiting period had previously been estimated at an average of 49 years before the establishment of the Hajj and Umrah Ministry.
He said the ministry subsequently began improving its data and management systems under instructions from President Prabowo Subianto, initially bringing the administrative average down to 26 years.
"So, from 49 years, we shortened it to 26 years on the president's instruction, and now, based on the actual data, the average is around 14 to 15 years," Dahnil said.
The ministry's transformation efforts are ultimately aimed at protecting prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and ensuring their rights are fulfilled, he added.
Dahnil said the government would continue seeking ways to shorten Hajj waiting times, including through a proposed revision of the Hajj Financial Management Law.
Government, House discuss 2027 hajj cost
Separately, Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said the government and the House of Representatives' Hajj working committee could reach an agreement on the cost of the 2027 pilgrimage within the next week.
Discussions are continuing to determine what officials consider an appropriate cost for pilgrims.
"God willing, within the next week we will be able to reach an agreement on the amount pilgrims will have to pay, which we will then submit to the president," Irfan said.
The government previously proposed an average 2027 Hajj pilgrimage cost, or BPIH, of Rp 107.34 million ($6,074) per pilgrim.