Religious Affairs Minister Responds to Gratification Allegations Over Private Jet Use
Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar has responded to gratification allegations surrounding his use of a private jet that went viral on social media. He stated that his presence on the flight was solely to accept a family invitation to inaugurate a madrasah.
He explained that he had been invited to inaugurate the madrasah. "Suddenly, well, the aircraft was like that. Was I supposed to not attend? That's it," Nasaruddin said when met at Istiqlal Mosque, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday evening, 18 February 2026.
When asked to respond to suggestions that using such a facility could be categorised as gratification, Nasaruddin replied curtly, "I don't know, whatever."
He stressed that the party who invited him has no official relationship with the ministry. "What gratification? He has no official relationship with us," he said.
According to Nasaruddin, the invitation came from someone with family ties to him. "His wife is family. So my relationship is a family one. It was family who invited me to inaugurate their boarding school. Was I supposed to not attend?" he said.
He also cited family origins in Takalar, South Sulawesi. "He is from Takalar. My uncle is also there, in Takalar. So we are family."
When asked again whether he would accept it if the public regarded his actions as gratification, Nasaruddin said he was unconcerned. "Yes. If it's family, there's no issue."
Previously, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar attended the inauguration of the Balai Sarkiah Building in Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi, on Sunday, 15 February 2026. The Balai Sarkiah Building is a religious and educational facility established by the OSO (Oesman Sapta Odang) Foundation.
The inauguration was attended by OSO and his family, Takalar Regent Mohammad Firdaus Daeng Manye, and the South Sulawesi Regional Leadership Communication Forum. Approximately 200 religious and community figures who had been awaiting the building's inauguration were also present.
The private jet's identity was revealed through social media footage showing the minister's arrival with his entourage. The jet's registration number is PK-RSS. According to Ministry of Transport data, PK-RSS is owned by Natural Synergy Corporation, an entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction known as a tax haven.
OSO has been a shareholder of this company since 2008. According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists database, the company remains active to this day, indicating that ownership of the aircraft lies with OSO. This ownership was also confirmed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which acknowledged the jet was a facility provided by OSO.
Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) together with Trend Asia calculated the value of the flight at no less than Rp 566 million based on a return journey totalling approximately five hours. This figure is based on the jet's itinerary carrying the minister on 14–15 February 2026, flying the route Jakarta–Makassar–Bone–Makassar–Jakarta. The carbon dioxide emissions generated amounted to 14 tonnes of CO2.
According to ICW and Trend Asia, private jets are the most polluting mode of transport, as emissions would have been far lower had the minister used commercial aircraft. Moreover, the Makassar–Bone–Makassar route is a short one that could also be covered by road. Public officials should not use luxury facilities in carrying out their duties, particularly when many alternative modes of transport exist.
"Expensive, luxurious, high-emission air travel should have been avoided. Especially since the minister has previously flown commercial to Bone. This means alternatives exist and the journey can also be made by road. As a public official, he should set an example in reducing the climate crisis by avoiding private jets as the world's most polluting mode of transport," said Zakki, a researcher at Trend Asia.
Furthermore, he assessed that the Religious Affairs Minister's acceptance of a private jet facility also potentially fulfils the elements of a criminal corruption offence as stipulated in Law Number 20 of 2001 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption, specifically regarding gratification provisions. Article 12 paragraph B subsections (1) and (2) affirm that any state official who receives gratification valued at Rp 10 million or more, and cannot prove that such gratification does not constitute a bribe, may be sentenced to a minimum of four years' and a maximum of life imprisonment.
As a state official, the Religious Affairs Minister should have refused any form of gift that manifestly contravenes the law, particularly when such a gift originates from a political figure who could potentially give rise to a conflict of interest in the future.
He explained that he had been invited to inaugurate the madrasah. "Suddenly, well, the aircraft was like that. Was I supposed to not attend? That's it," Nasaruddin said when met at Istiqlal Mosque, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday evening, 18 February 2026.
When asked to respond to suggestions that using such a facility could be categorised as gratification, Nasaruddin replied curtly, "I don't know, whatever."
He stressed that the party who invited him has no official relationship with the ministry. "What gratification? He has no official relationship with us," he said.
According to Nasaruddin, the invitation came from someone with family ties to him. "His wife is family. So my relationship is a family one. It was family who invited me to inaugurate their boarding school. Was I supposed to not attend?" he said.
He also cited family origins in Takalar, South Sulawesi. "He is from Takalar. My uncle is also there, in Takalar. So we are family."
When asked again whether he would accept it if the public regarded his actions as gratification, Nasaruddin said he was unconcerned. "Yes. If it's family, there's no issue."
Previously, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar attended the inauguration of the Balai Sarkiah Building in Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi, on Sunday, 15 February 2026. The Balai Sarkiah Building is a religious and educational facility established by the OSO (Oesman Sapta Odang) Foundation.
The inauguration was attended by OSO and his family, Takalar Regent Mohammad Firdaus Daeng Manye, and the South Sulawesi Regional Leadership Communication Forum. Approximately 200 religious and community figures who had been awaiting the building's inauguration were also present.
The private jet's identity was revealed through social media footage showing the minister's arrival with his entourage. The jet's registration number is PK-RSS. According to Ministry of Transport data, PK-RSS is owned by Natural Synergy Corporation, an entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction known as a tax haven.
OSO has been a shareholder of this company since 2008. According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists database, the company remains active to this day, indicating that ownership of the aircraft lies with OSO. This ownership was also confirmed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which acknowledged the jet was a facility provided by OSO.
Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) together with Trend Asia calculated the value of the flight at no less than Rp 566 million based on a return journey totalling approximately five hours. This figure is based on the jet's itinerary carrying the minister on 14–15 February 2026, flying the route Jakarta–Makassar–Bone–Makassar–Jakarta. The carbon dioxide emissions generated amounted to 14 tonnes of CO2.
According to ICW and Trend Asia, private jets are the most polluting mode of transport, as emissions would have been far lower had the minister used commercial aircraft. Moreover, the Makassar–Bone–Makassar route is a short one that could also be covered by road. Public officials should not use luxury facilities in carrying out their duties, particularly when many alternative modes of transport exist.
"Expensive, luxurious, high-emission air travel should have been avoided. Especially since the minister has previously flown commercial to Bone. This means alternatives exist and the journey can also be made by road. As a public official, he should set an example in reducing the climate crisis by avoiding private jets as the world's most polluting mode of transport," said Zakki, a researcher at Trend Asia.
Furthermore, he assessed that the Religious Affairs Minister's acceptance of a private jet facility also potentially fulfils the elements of a criminal corruption offence as stipulated in Law Number 20 of 2001 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption, specifically regarding gratification provisions. Article 12 paragraph B subsections (1) and (2) affirm that any state official who receives gratification valued at Rp 10 million or more, and cannot prove that such gratification does not constitute a bribe, may be sentenced to a minimum of four years' and a maximum of life imprisonment.
As a state official, the Religious Affairs Minister should have refused any form of gift that manifestly contravenes the law, particularly when such a gift originates from a political figure who could potentially give rise to a conflict of interest in the future.