Trial Reveals Volatile Relationship Between Yaqut and Nusron Wahid
The Independent Commissioner of Sucofindo, Zainal Abidin, testified to being aware of the relationship between former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and the former Chairman of the DPR Hajj Special Committee, Nusron Wahid. However, Zainal likened the relationship between the two to the cartoon characters ‘Tom and Jerry’.
Zainal made these remarks while testifying in the trial concerning alleged corruption regarding additional Hajj quotas at the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (29/09/2026). The case involves Yaqut and several others.
Zainal has known Yaqut since their university years, during which both were active in the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII) and the Ansor Youth Movement. The KPK prosecutor then asked whether Zainal had ever spoken with Yaqut regarding the Hajj Special Committee before communicating with Gus Alex.
Zainast admitted that such conversations took place, albeit in a joking manner.
“The context was just casual joking. It did happen once, while joking around with all our friends, at the time when Mr Nusron was elected as the Chairman of the Special Committee. The relationship between the two of them is indeed like Tom and Jerry, Sir,” Zainal stated during the trial.
“Tom and Jerry?” the KPK prosecutor asked.
Zainal explained that the relationship between Yaqut and Nusron was sometimes strained, yet at other times, they appeared close. Consequently, Zainal had witnessed the volatile nature of their relationship.
“I know the history. Like Tom and Jerry, sometimes they are at war, sometimes… the right hand fights while the left hand hugs, that’s how it is,” Zainal remarked.
Zainal also revealed that during a casual gathering with friends, Yaqut had reportedly asked Zainal to help facilitate communication with Nusron regarding the conditioning of the Hajj Special Committee.
“His nickname is Kangmu, Gus Nusron. He said, ‘Please communicate with Kangmu,’ that was it. That was essentially all there was,” Zainal said.