Marwan Dasopang Highlights Issue with Hajj Aircraft Crew Wearing High Skirts

Chairman of DPR Commission VIII, Marwan Dasopang, mentioned that there are aircraft serving Indonesian pilgrims with crew members wearing high skirts. Marwan deemed the appearance of these aircraft crew members as inappropriate. Marwan made these remarks during a Working Meeting of DPR Commission VIII with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (10/28/2025). Initially, Marwan suggested that the age of aircraft serving Hajj should not exceed 15 years.

Marwan Dasopang suggested that the Hajj aircraft crew are actually all hired. Therefore, the crew of the leased aircraft, who serve our pilgrims, wear high skirts,” Marwan was quoted as saying by detikNews. The DPR member from North Sumatra mentioned that the airline only allows two Indonesians to be part of the crew. He requested crew members to be based in Indonesia.

Responding to Marwan Dasopang’s statements, DPR member Maman Imanulhaq asked for the conclusion of the meeting to include the requirement that aircraft crew for Hajj flights must meet Sharia standards. ‘That’s why I think the Deputy Minister’s suggestion is good, that Hajj flights must meet economic and technical standards. In addition, as the chairman mentioned, the crew must meet Sharia standards,” he said.

Marwan responded, ‘It’s not a Sharia issue, Kiai, the problem is they are too embarrassed to use the toilet because they see ha-ha-ha. So, they must be Indonesian, not about Sharia, but the crew must also be Indonesian.’ Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, also responded to Marwan’s statement, mentioning that foreign airlines are required to have a minimum of three Indonesian crew members.

Dahnil mentioned that he had never encountered the issue highlighted by Marwan Dasopang. ‘For your information, for foreign airlines, in this case, Saudia, they require a minimum of 3 Indonesian crew members, whereas for Indonesian airlines, all of the crew members are Indonesian,’ Dahnil said. ‘Deputy Minister, what happened was not with Saudia’s aircraft, it was with our aircraft,’ Marwan added. ‘I have never encountered it,’ Dahnil replied.