By: Bara Winatha )*
The government through the Ministry of Religion continues to strengthen its commitment to providing the best service for hajj pilgrims in the Holy Land. Along with the start of the crucial phase of the implementation of the 2025 hajj pilgrimage, a number of strategic steps have been taken, including sending the Hajj Monitoring and Evaluation (Monev) Team to Saudi Arabia and accelerating the distribution of Nusuk cards. These steps demonstrate the government’s seriousness in ensuring that all stages of the hajj pilgrimage service run optimally, efficiently, and meet the comfort and safety standards of pilgrims.
The Head of the 2025 Hajj Monev Team, Saiful Mujab, stated that the team he leads is tasked with directly overseeing the implementation of hajj services at three main operational points, namely the Working Areas (Daker) of Mecca, Medina, and the Airport. This team consists of elements of the leadership of the Ministry of Religion Regional Office, rectors of State Islamic Religious Colleges (PTKIN), and other elements within the Ministry of Religion. Their main task is to ensure that every element of service provided to pilgrims is in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that has been prepared previously.
The Monev Team will be on duty in Saudi Arabia for the next 25 to 30 days and will conduct comprehensive supervision of nine crucial service points, including sectors, dakers, groups, and strategic points in the movement of pilgrims such as Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna). In addition, supervision will also be carried out on the process of moving pilgrims between Mecca-Arafah, Arafah-Muzdalifah, to Mina. Not only that, important services such as murur (cross-trip) and tanazul (gradual return) are also the main concerns of this team.
While on duty, the Monev Team will provide technical input, provide field assistance, and prepare reports and recommendations to improve the quality of services in the next hajj season. Their presence is not only for supervision, but also as active companions in resolving various problems that may arise in the field.
Efforts to strengthen Indonesia’s hajj services are not limited to technical supervision. The government is also prioritizing the acceleration of the distribution of Nusuk cards, an important identification card issued by the Saudi Arabian authorities. This card is mandatory for every hajj pilgrim to access various facilities and services while in the Holy Land.
The Head of the Saudi Arabian Hajj Organizing Officer (PPIH), Muchlis M Hanafi, emphasized that although the distribution of Nusuk cards is the authority of the sharia or service companies appointed by the Saudi Arabian Government, his party is not sitting idly by. PPIH is proactively bridging communication between the sharia and Indonesian hajj pilgrims in order to accelerate the card distribution process which has been delayed.
As a concrete form of this acceleration, the Saudi Arabian PPIH has formed a special operations room. This room is tasked with coordinating and monitoring the distribution of Nusuk cards in real time, by appointing a person in charge in each sector and work unit. A digital-based reporting system has also been developed so that data on pilgrims who have not received cards can be updated daily through the Integrated Hajj Information and Computerization System (Siskohat). Each group leader is required to input the latest data into the system so that it can be followed up as soon as possible.
The presence of this operation room is expected to increase the efficiency of communication and reporting between the field and the coordination center. In addition, with the presence of a person in charge at each service point, the Nusuk card distribution process can be monitored and accelerated more optimally. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj also directly monitors the development of the distribution of this card, and continues to provide daily evaluations to the syndicates so that the distribution target can be achieved.
The Head of the Makkah Working Area, Ali Machzumi, said that until now, some pilgrims coming from Medina to Mecca still have not received the Nusuk card. However, his party continues to coordinate intensively with the related syndicates, including reminding them to complete the distribution as soon as possible. Officers have also been instructed to ask pilgrims who have not received the card to report to the group leader or their respective group leader.
Ali also said that in the last few days, the distribution of the Nusuk card has shown quite significant progress. This is the result of close cooperation between the Saudi Arabian PPIH, the Monev team, and the sharia. However, he emphasized that this settlement effort must continue to be monitored until all pilgrims receive the card.
The strengthening of hajj services by the government this year reflects a more systematic and responsive approach. With synergy between the Monev Team, PPIH, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, as well as cross-in coordinationagencies with local partners in Saudi Arabia, services to hajj pilgrims are expected to achieve better standards than in previous years. The concrete steps taken by the government are also part of a long-term effort to improve the overall hajj system in Indonesia.
Thus, the implementation of the 2025 Hajj will be a spiritual momentum as well as a real manifestation of professionalism, dedication, and the best service from the state to its citizens. The government is determined to make this moment an effort to improve and continuously increase hajj services, in order to maintain the dignity and public trust in the governance of the hajj pilgrimage in Indonesia.
)* The author is a social and community observer.
