NU alleges rampant corruption over haj

NU alleges rampant corruption over haj

Tiarma Siboro and A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post

Rampant corruption, including price markups, at the Ministry of
Religious Affairs involved many officials, businesspeople,
politicians and foreigners, a respected Muslim leader alleged on
Monday.

Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the country's largest Muslim
organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said that reforms within the
ministry required extra effort from all parties, including
lawmakers, non-governmental organizations and the press.

"Some say that rampant corruption and markups are developed by
an expansive network involving officials at home and certain
parties overseas. That is what we call a conspiratorial
syndicate.

"We need to get serious about cleaning up such appalling
behavior, including a clear concept on how to manage the
pilgrimage for Indonesian Muslims," Hasyim remarked during a
press conference at NU headquarters in Central Jakarta.

His made the statement after reading a recent report by
Government Watch (Gowa), an NGO concerned with crimes and
irregularities committed by state officials.

Hasyim doubted, however, that the private sector would be able
to handle the haj pilgrimage professionally -- as some have
recently suggested -- saying that the government had once
delegated the matters to private firms and similar problems still
took place.

The government handed over the management of the special minor
haj, with about 15,000 people, to a private firm two years ago,
but later dropped the firm after the organizers failed to carry
out their duties properly.

This year, some 30,000 haj pilgrims, mostly under the ONH Plus
arrangement, were not able to go to Mecca despite promises from
the government, that it would grant a higher quota. Indonesia's
quota stood at 205,000 people this year.

Meanwhile, Gowa chairman Farid Faqih, seemed a bit confused as
to what constituted corruption, saying "those involved are just
manipulating people to pay more than what is required."

"I have data from the Supreme Audit Agency showing the
financial report of the ministry of religious affairs. We are
still studying the report to determine whether criminal
corruption took place.

"One thing is certain, and that is the officials and other
parties have manipulated Indonesian pilgrims by making them pay
expenses exceeding the normal costs," Farid added.

He was referring to various items that the Indonesian pilgrims
should have, and thus have to pay for, such as a special
bracelet, airplane tickets and accommodation in Mecca.

Separately, the ministry's haj information office head Nunun
Firdaus denied any responsibility for the markups, saying the
prices were decided in conjunction with the government and the
House of Representatives.

"We do not decide the costs alone. They have been calculated
thoroughly and jointly decided by the government and the House,"
Nunun told The Jakarta Post.

He agreed with Hasyim's statement, saying that handing over
the haj management to the private sector or an independent body
would worsen the situation.

He claimed that the government had no vested interests in
managing the haj pilgrimage.