TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Yandri Susanto stated that this year's Hajj pilgrimage as an improvement over previous year.

"This is demonstrated by the fact that, unlike last year, we did not witness any abandonment or overcrowding of pilgrims in Muzdalifah," he noted in a statement received on Sunday, July 14, 2024.

He made the statement in response to varying opinions regarding the House of Representatives' (DPR) decision to form a special inquiry committee on Hajj management.

"The peak of Hajj worship in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina went smoothly. Pilgrims were able to perform the worship rituals effectively," he added.

Susanto then emphasized that ensuring a smooth-running Hajj pilgrimage has never been an easy task, especially since the number of Indonesians participating the pilgrimage this year is the highest on record.

He highlighted that all Hajj officers had managed to make the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage a success.

"We only witnessed a few minor shortfalls," he concluded.

Earlier, during a plenary meeting held on July 9, the DPR decided to exercise its right of inquiry to establish a special committee tasked with identifying and evaluating the mistakes made during this year's Hajj implementation.

DPR Deputy Speaker Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar stated the establishment of the special committee was not at odds with the applicable regulations and rules.

He also highlighted that the presence of the committee would help ensure fairness in the utilization and distribution of Hajj quotas, considering that some people have been waiting for decades to perform the pilgrimage.

The inquiry committee consists of 27 members representing eight factions in the DPR: the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Golkar Party, Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, Democratic National Party, Democratic Party, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), National Mandate Party (PAN), and United Development Party (PPP).

ANTARA

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