House seeks independent haj body
Sandy Darmosumarto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The House of Representatives called for the establishment of an independent body to take charge of haj travel in order to eliminate the government's monopoly over haj travel management.
During a hearing between House Commission VI and the Coalition for Haj Reform (Korup Haji), commission deputy chairman Anwar Arifin said that the body should be set up for five years and involve members of the public in addition to the public sector.
"In the future, haj travel management should fully incorporate the role of the public, religious leaders from the Indonesian Council of Ulemas, and non-governmental organizations that are experienced in monitoring haj travel," said Anwar.
Currently, the haj pilgrimage is organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Recent corruption allegations against the ministry have prompted the public at large to call for an independent body to organize the haj pilgrimage.
Previously, the Haj Reform Coalition, which includes non- governmental organizations such as Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), Government Watch, and the Indonesia Consumers Foundation (YLKI), claimed that some state officeholders and civil servants within the religious affairs ministry were embezzling or otherwise misusing haj funds for personal gain.
Those referred to included the Minister of Religious Affairs, Said Agiel Al-Munawwar. In this regard, the coalition urged the Public Servants Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) to question and reexamine the wealth of the minister, who is reported to have doubled his wealth in two years.
Allegations of cronyism in the haj travel business have also been laid at the minister's brother, Fahmi Alwi Al-Munawwar.
The coalition reported Fahmi to police after an employee of a catering service company complained that Fahmi had asked the company to pay him a Rp 400 million kickback in return for a contract. The report was accompanied by an audio recording of the talks between the employee and Fahmi.
Achmad Alwi, Fahmi's lawyer, came to National Police headquarters on Tuesday to represent his client. The police summoned Fahmi to answer questions related to the case.
"We came here to ask the police about how the overall case is related to our client. Our client's problem is confined to the haj catering problem, and not the haj quota," said Achmad.
"The voice on the tape is not that of Fahmi. We don't know whose voice it is. The status of our client in this case is unclear. We are allowed by the law to represent him here today," said Achmad.