Update on Hajj Quota Corruption Case: KPK States Gus Alex Directed Religion Ministry to Relax Hajj Policy
The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has revealed new evidence regarding the role of Ishfah Abidal Aziz, known as Gus Alex, in the alleged hajj quota corruption case of 2023-2024. The special staff to the Religion Minister is strongly suspected of directing officials at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) to relax hajj policies for newly registered pilgrims or those in the T0 category.
KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu explained that the directive was aimed at the Head of the Subdirectorate for Licensing, Accreditation, and Development of Special Hajj Services at Kemenag, identified by the initials RFA.
Asep stated that Gus Alex’s instruction resulted in the issuance of a 2023 Decree by the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Services (PHU). This decree was designed to facilitate newly registered pilgrims to depart for hajj directly without waiting in the usual queue.
“A 2023 Decree from the PHU Director General was issued, drafted by RFA as Head of the Licensing Subdirectorate under the direction of Gus Alex to relax policies regarding T0,” Asep Guntur Rahayu stated at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday, 13 March 2026.
The PHU Director General’s policy was claimed to be a follow-up to Religion Minister Decree Number 467 of 2023 concerning the Establishment of Additional Hajj Quotas. Based on available data, an additional 8,000 quotas were allocated, comprising 7,360 for regular hajj and 640 for special hajj.
The case entered a new phase after the KPK received official audit results from Indonesia’s State Audit Board (BPK). Based on an announcement on 4 March 2026, the total state financial losses resulting from this corrupt practice reached Rp622 billion.
In addition to Gus Alex, former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has also been designated a suspect. Yaqut’s legal challenge through the pre-trial mechanism at the South Jakarta District Court was formally rejected on 11 March 2026.
Following the pre-trial decision, KPK investigators immediately took firm action by detaining Yaqut at the State Detention Facility in the Red and White Building of the KPK, effective from 12 March 2026.
To date, the KPK continues to investigate the involvement of other parties in the hajj quota corruption case, including owners of hajj travel agencies allegedly benefiting from the diversion of hajj quota funds. The KPK has seized assets worth more than Rp100 billion belonging to suspect Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, ranging from millions of US dollars to land and buildings.
The KPK has revealed allegations that Yaqut Cholil Qoumas received fees of up to Rp84 million per pilgrim for expedited special hajj arrangements. The KPK has detained Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for an initial detention period of 20 days.
The modus operandi employed by the suspects enabled newly registered pilgrims to depart immediately by paying a specified sum of money. The KPK has explained the origins of the alleged bribery case in the administration and distribution of hajj quotas at the Ministry of Religion.