After KPK Examination, Khalid Basalamah Claims No Interaction with Yaqut and His Special Staff
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The director and owner of PT Zahra Oto Mandiri (Uhud Tour), Khalid Zeed Abdullah Basalamah, claims he has never interacted with former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his former special staff member, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex.
Basalamah made this statement after being examined as a witness in the suspected corruption case concerning the 2023-2024 Hajj quota at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday (23/4/2026).
“There are names here that I have never interacted with, such as the former minister of religious affairs; I don’t know about his special staff,” Basalamah said when met by the media.
In addition to not interacting with Yaqut, he also claims he has never interacted with the owner of the Hajj Travel Bureau Maktour, Fuad Hasan Masyur, regarding the implementation of special Hajj worship.
“No, interactions regarding matters like this certainly not,” he said.
He stated that the money was returned to him by PT Muhibah, and then the funds were handed over to the KPK since the anti-corruption agency began investigating the case.
“So, PT Muhibah returned the funds to us; we didn’t know what the money was for. The amount was around Rp 8.4 billion, right? Yes, it was returned,” he said.
Kompas.com observations show that Basalamah arrived at the Red and White Building in Jakarta at 15:46 WIB accompanied by five lawyers. They were seen wearing black suits.
“Summoned as a witness,” Basalamah said.
He also claims not to know the other witnesses summoned by the KPK.
“I don’t know the people; I don’t know them very well,” he said.
The Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, revealed that Khalid Basalamah also returned money to the KPK related to the management of special Hajj.
At that time, he said, Basalamah was pressured so that prospective pilgrims could depart directly for the special Hajj even though they had just registered.
“So that (the money handed over by Basalamah to the KPK) was actually not a bribe. Because the initiative came from the official (from the Ministry of Religious Affairs). ‘If you want to depart this year, pay the expedited fee.’ That’s already extortion,” Asep said at the Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday (18/9/2025).
“He (Basalamah) was afraid it wouldn’t be clear with furoda. Well, this one is clear; the visa is already available, special Hajj. So he thought, well, if it’s there,” he added.