OSO on Private Jet Used by Religious Affairs Minister: We Invited Him, What's Wrong with That?
Hanura Party Chairman Oesman Sapta Odang (OSO) has spoken out regarding Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar’s decision to report his use of a private jet to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
The facility was used for travel to the inauguration of the Balai Sarkiah Building in Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi.
According to OSO, providing the facility was unproblematic as Nasaruddin attended by invitation for a religious event.
“There’s nothing wrong with it. We invited him. We were inaugurating a mosque, a place of religious study. What’s wrong with that?” OSO said when contacted on Tuesday (24/2).
OSO stressed that Nasaruddin’s attendance at the event was not in his formal capacity as minister. He said Nasaruddin was merely asked to lead prayers at the building’s inauguration.
“It has nothing to do with his work either. He just recited prayers — we’re fellow Muslims,” he said.
He also dismissed suggestions that the private jet facility constituted gratification.
“What gratification? Ha ha. Are you saying fellow Muslims can’t help each other?” he remarked.
Previously, Nasaruddin had reported the use of OSO’s private jet to the KPK. He explained that he chose the jet due to limited commercial flight schedules.
“Because at 11 pm there are obviously no more flights there, and the next morning I had to return for preparations for the Isbat Session,” Nasaruddin said at the KPK offices in South Jakarta on Monday (23/2).
He stated that the report was part of his commitment to transparency regarding potential gratification allegations, including the use of the private jet.
“This time I’ve come again to report on my recent trip carrying out duties in South Sulawesi, in Makassar, using a special aircraft,” he said.
The KPK stated it would review the report. The anti-corruption body also indicated it may request additional information, including from the party that provided the facility.
“During the analysis, it is possible to request additional information or statements from certain parties,” KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo told reporters on Monday (23/2). Budi was responding to questions about the possibility of summoning OSO as the provider of the jet facility.
Once the report’s completeness has been verified, the KPK will conduct further analysis to determine the status of the facility provision.
“From this report, the team will check the completeness of the filing and conduct an analysis, after which a decision will be made on the status of the facility provision,” he said.