Gus Alex Responds to KPK Summons as Suspect in Hajj Quota Corruption Case
JAKARTA — Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA), better known as Gus Alex, a former special staff member to Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, appeared for questioning by KPK investigators as a suspect in an alleged hajj quota corruption case on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
“Saudara IAA arrived at the KPK Red and White building this morning to undergo questioning by investigators,” said KPK Spokesman Budi Prasetyo.
In this case, Gus Alex is suspected of representing Yaqut in the alleged hajj quota corruption matter covering 2023-2024.
KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu stated that Gus Alex played a dominant role in collecting acceleration fees for special hajj pilgrimage services from Special Hajj Implementation Providers (PIHK).
“GA is a special staff member of Saudara YCQ, so officials there at the time considered what GA conveyed, because it was regarded as a representation of YCQ, to be an order from YCQ,” Asep said during a press conference.
“In other words, if I wanted to give money to, say, person A, and there is a representation by person B, then I don’t need to go directly to A — I can just give it to B because it’s the same as giving it to A,” he added.
Asep stated that investigators also found indications that Gus Alex’s actions were allegedly carried out on Yaqut’s orders and with his knowledge.
“This is strengthened by other statements and evidence, both electronic and physical,” said Asep.
The KPK decided to detain Yaqut for the first 20 days, from Thursday, 12 March until 31 March 2026.
Yaqut is accused of ordering the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Implementation, Hilman Latief, to reapportion the additional hajj quota from 92 per cent for regular hajj and 8 per cent for special hajj to a proportional 50:50 split.
The order was conveyed by Yaqut following a meeting with the Steering Board of the Fellowship Forum of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Travel Agencies (Forum SATHU), Fuad Hasan Masyur, in November 2023.
Yaqut also requested that Hilman Latief draft a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia regarding a proposal for additional hajj quota with a 50:50 share scheme.
Asep stated that Yaqut subsequently ordered Hilman to conduct a simulation that could serve as justification or basis for changing the composition of additional quota to 10,000 regular pilgrims and 10,000 special pilgrims.
At the end of December 2023, Religious Affairs Ministerial Decree Number 1156 concerning the Additional Hajj Quota for 1445 Hijri/2023 CE was issued, which divided the additional quota into 10,000 each for regular and special pilgrimage.
“However, this ministerial decision was not widely disseminated among the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Implementation; only certain individuals were aware of this decree,” said Asep.
The ministerial decision contradicts Article 64, Paragraph 2 of Law Number 8 of 2019 on Hajj and Umrah Implementation, which regulates the distribution of additional hajj quota as 92 per cent for regular hajj and 8 per cent for special hajj.
In this case, Yaqut is accused of violating Article 2, Paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption Offences as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, as well as Article 55, Paragraph (1), Clause 1 of the old Criminal Code.