Hajj Quota Corruption Costs State 622 Billion Rupiah, Regular Pilgrims' Rights Stripped
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed the extent of state losses in an alleged bribery case concerning the implementation and distribution of hajj quotas at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) for 2023-2024. An audit has shown that the state suffered hundreds of billions of rupiah as a result of deviated policies.
“The state financial losses resulting from unlawful acts by the parties involved with hajj quotas for the implementation of Indonesia’s hajj pilgrimage in 2023-2024 reached 622 billion rupiah,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at the KPK Red and White Building in South Jakarta on Thursday (12 March).
Asep explained that the calculation was completed by the Audit Board (BPK). So far, investigators have seized several assets to recover state losses, including property in the form of houses belonging to the related parties.
In this case, the KPK has designated and detained former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ) and former Religion Minister’s Special Staff Isfan Abidal Aziz (IAA), also known as Gus Alex, as prime suspects. Detention was carried out for the first 20 days and can be extended as needed during the investigation.
The case emerged after the discovery of an additional hajj quota distribution that violated regulations. Indonesia had actually received an additional 20,000 quotas to accelerate the queue for regular hajj pilgrims.
According to regulations, this additional allocation should have been distributed at a ratio of 92 per cent for regular hajj and 8 per cent for special hajj. However, the suspects allegedly unilaterally changed the policy by dividing the quota equally at 50 per cent each.
The KPK continues to investigate the involvement of other parties in the hajj implementation ecosystem. To date, several senior officials at Kemenag have been examined intensively.
Investigators have also called several witnesses from hajj and umrah travel service providers to clarify the quota distribution process. One name that has been asked for a statement by investigators is Islamic teacher Khalid Basalamah, acting as a private party.
The KPK is committed to quickly completing the case file so that this case, which has harmed Indonesian hajj pilgrims, can soon be heard in court. The detention of Yaqut is important to accelerate the legal process and clarify the flow of the case being investigated. The KPK is optimistic in facing the pre-trial hearing of former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, and the Audit Board has confirmed the existence of state losses in the hajj quota corruption at Kemenag.