Muhadjir Effendy Questioned by KPK Regarding 2022 Additional Hajj Quota

Jakarta, VIVA – The Corruption Eradancy Commission (KPK) interrogated the Special Adviser to the President for Hajj, Muhadjir Effendy, on Monday, 18 May 2026, in his capacity as a witness. The KPK is questioning Muhadjir to deepen investigations into statements regarding the additional Hajj quota for 2022 as part of a corruption probe.

“Regarding the 2022 additional Hajj quota,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters, as reported by ANTARA on Monday, 18 May 2026. Muhadjir is being questioned because he served as the Acting Minister of Religious Affairs in 2022. The spokesperson added that the former minister’s testimony is essential to understand the processes and mechanisms that should have been implemented, particularly concerning the distribution of the additional Hajj quota.

Following his interrogation, Muhadjir Effendy stated that he was being questioned by investigators in his capacity as the Acting Minister of Religious Affairs in 2022. “There were not many questions. I only served ad interim for 20 days, from 30 June to 19 July,” Muhadjir said.

Previously, on 9 August 2025, the KPK launched an investigation into alleged corruption involving Indonesia’s Hajj quota for the 2023-2024 period. On 9 January 2026, the KPK named former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, a special staffer for Yaqut, as suspects. Meanwhile, Fuad Hasan Masyhur, the owner of the Hajj organiser Maktour, was not named a suspect, despite being subject to a travel ban.

The KPK subsequently received the results of an audit from the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK) on 27 February 2026, which indicated that state financial losses in the case reached Rp622 billion. On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the KPK Red and White Building detention centre, followed by the detention of Ishfah on 17 March 2026. While Yaqut’s detention status was briefly changed to house arrest on 19 March 2026 following a family request, he was returned to the KPK detention centre on 24 March 2026. On 30 March 2026, the KPK named two additional suspects: the Operational Director of Maktour, Ismail Adham, and the General Chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Tour Travel Union (Kesthuri), Asrul Aziz Taba.