House seeks independent haj body

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.