KPK: Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Ordered 50:50 Hajj Quota Division with Saudi Arabia
Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has disclosed efforts by former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to arrange the distribution of additional hajj quotas for 2024. The KPK stated that, in advancing this objective, Yaqut attempted to arrange a scheme with Saudi Arabian authorities to ensure an irregular quota distribution could continue whilst appearing compliant with legislation.
The additional allocation of 20,000 quotas changed the division from the original 92 per cent regular hajj and 8 per cent special hajj to a 50:50 split. Initially, Yaqut instructed his former special staff member Ishfah Abidal Aziz, known as Gus Alex, to communicate with the Indonesian Hajj Affairs Office Technical Staff in Jeddah.
Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy of Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, explained that the communication concerned the e-hajj application for Indonesia’s hajj quota, which was active at that time. In 2024, a total of 221,000 pilgrims had been entered into the e-hajj system.
Asep clarified that this quota constituted the base hajj quota and did not yet include additional quotas. Based on this information, Gus Alex conveyed that the additional 20,000 quota for Indonesia had been agreed to be divided equally—50:50 between regular and special hajj—in accordance with the direction or order of Yaqut as Religious Affairs Minister at that time.
Gus Alex then engaged in intensive communication regarding this 50:50 additional quota division. His communications also included plans to separate the division of the additional 20,000 quota from the base quota of 221,000.
According to Asep, it was through this communication that Gus Alex attempted to “circumvent” Saudi Arabian authorities by presenting a scheme as if the 50:50 quota division was already compliant. Consequently, the scheme presented to Saudi Arabia was formulated to appear not to violate regulations or legislation.
“The Indonesian Hajj Affairs Office discussed and provided technical guidance regarding the scheme or method of dividing the additional quota from an administrative perspective with Saudi Arabia so that the decision on the 50:50 additional quota division would appear not to violate legislation. Yet the initial agreement on quota division was 92 per cent to 8 per cent,” Asep explained during a press conference at KPK headquarters in South Jakarta on Thursday (12 March 2026).
Gus Alex also stated that the scheme was undertaken on the basis of an order from Yaqut. This further strengthened Saudi Arabia’s confidence in the scheme arranged by Gus Alex.
“In this communication, the Indonesian Hajj Affairs Office stated that the individual discussed the matter and received guidance from Yaqut as Religious Affairs Minister,” Asep clarified.
Asep also disclosed that Yaqut’s decision to divide the additional hajj quota equally—contrary to regulations—resulted in him obtaining fees. Yaqut received these fees from collections conducted by staff within the Directorate of Umrah and Special Hajj Development and the Sub-directorate of Licensing, Accreditation, and Special Hajj Service Development, coordinated by Gus Alex.
The money was charged as an acceleration fee for special hajj departures without queuing. Gus Alex requested staff within the Directorate of Umrah and Special Hajj Development and the Sub-directorate of Licensing, Accreditation, and Special Hajj Service Development to designate individuals to coordinate the collection of this fee from associations and Special Hajj Service Providers.
“The agreed fee was set at USD 2,000 or approximately Rp 33.8 million per pilgrim,” Asep stated.
M Agus Syafi, the Sub-director of Licensing, Accreditation, and Special Hajj Service Development, was instructed by Gus Alex to collect money from Special Hajj Service Providers, which was ultimately charged to prospective special hajj pilgrims in an amount of at least USD 2,500 (Rp 42.2 million) per pilgrim.
“The transfer and collection of these funds took place between February and June 2024,” he added.