Gus Alex Reveals DPR Members Requested Money and VIP Facilities for Hajj Services

Ishfah Abidal Azerm, also known as Gus Alex—a special staffer to the Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs for the 2019-2024 period, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, and a defendant in the 2023-2024 additional Hajj quota corruption case—revealed that three leaders of Commission VIII of the DPR RI requested him to collect money from catering providers during a trial on Friday (4/9) in the early hours.

Furthermore, Ishfah disclosed that 70 members of the DPR Hajj Supervisory Team (Timwas) requested to be facilitated with Maktab 111, despite not being entitled to it. Maktab 111 is a special service area (maktab) in the VIP category located in Mina, specifically intended for special Hajj (plus) or Furoda pilgrims.

Additionally, Ishfah mentioned that 24 members of the Commission VIII Working Committee (Panja) also requested 3,000 riyals per person. However, he admitted that he could only manage to provide 1,500 riyals per person, stating that the money was intended as ‘souvenirs’.