Menhaj admits appointing 2 sons as ministry experts
Irfan Yusuf said both helped build BP Haji since 2024 without pay, as the new ministry remains short of staff.
Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf acknowledged appointing his two sons, Barbarossa Muhammad Farros and Gibran Muhammad, as experts at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The appointment refers to Minister of Hajj and Umrah Decree No. 3 of 2026 and drew public scrutiny. Irfan said both helped form the Hajj Organizing Agency since late 2024, along with a number of Islamic boarding school students, when the new body had no office, staff or work facilities. According to him, they worked voluntarily for three to four months without pay, then some who were deemed suitable for the ministry's needs were brought in as experts. He also said five expert slots were available, but only four were used. Irfan added that his ministry now has only 3,200 personnel, far below the 7,000 employees needed in 2026.