Jakarta. A plenary session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday agreed to establish an inquiry team to investigate the government’s handling of the Hajj pilgrimage that concluded last month.

The decision follows numerous complaints about logistical supplies, shelter capacity, and transportation for Indonesian pilgrims during the 40-day ritual in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Indonesia regularly sends more than 200,000 Muslim pilgrims to the annual Hajj, but millions remain on the waiting list, with some waiting more than a decade for their turn.

House Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar said the inquiry team will comprise 30 lawmakers from various parties, proportionate to their representation in the House.

The team includes seven members from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), four each from the Golkar Party and the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), three each from the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Democratic Party (Nasdem), the Democratic Party, and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), two from the National Mandate Party (PAN), and one from the United Development Party (PPP).

Muhaimin said the House’s Hajj Pilgrimage Oversight Team had previously identified many issues in the handling of Indonesian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, particularly concerning logistics and accommodation.

The inquiry team aims to find solutions to these recurring problems and prevent their recurrence in future pilgrimages, he said.

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