The Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar faces backlash over ‘cangkem’ statement

Jakarta, Thekabarnews.com—A major scandal still gets a lot of attention involving Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak. Dahnil got a lot of negative news for using the word “cangkem,” which many netizens saw as harsh. He used this word when he replied to comments from Anwar Abbas, head of Muhammadiyah’s central executive board.

Earlier, Anwar Abbas had spoken out against the government’s choice to hire only two companies to run Hajj services in 2026. He said that the approach could make people jealous. Additionally, it could make them less likely to trust the Indonesian government to run the Hajj system. 

Anwar Abbas says that if service providers don’t participate, it could make people question how fair and open the distribution of tasks and responsibilities is.

Dahnil’s answer, which eventually went viral on social media, made many people angry. Many others deemed his remarks unethical. This is particularly true because his remarks targeted a prominent religious leader. 

Critics said that the remark did not show the maturity and wisdom that people expect from a state official. This is especially true when it came to responding to criticism based on the Constitution and policy.

There have been calls for an official review of Dahnil’s behavior since then. Farid Idris, an activist from Muhammadiyah in Jakarta, was one of the strongest voices. He said that public officials must follow moral rules and respect other people’s opinions. They must also act appropriately when they get criticism through proper and respectful methods.

“State officials should be careful and act morally when they talk to the public, especially when they talk to religious leaders who are vital to society,” Farid added.

Dahnil has not yet made an official statement, and the administration has not yet made a public reaction to the matter. The lack of response has led to more public debate about the limitations of political speech. It has also increased talk about how important it is to have respectful conversations in public life.

The case has made people more aware of how important it is to be careful while talking about politics. There is also more awareness of the need to be an ethical leader and show respect for religious leaders in Indonesia’s public life. 

It also shows that more people increasingly demand open and professional Hajj management. Millions of Indonesian Muslims closely follow this issue.