Why Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Accepted Private Jet from OSO

Jakarta, VIVA – Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar has spoken publicly about his reasons for accepting the use of a private jet belonging to Hanura Party General Chairman Oesman Sapta Odang (OSO).

He said he used the jet facility due to the late hour in Makassar, South Sulawesi, which made it impossible to take a commercial flight. At the same time, he needed to return to Jakarta to attend the isbat (moon sighting) session. As a result, Minister Nasaruddin accepted the use of the private jet.

“Because at 11 pm local time, there were obviously no more flights available, and the next morning I had to be back for preparations for the Isbat Session,” Nasaruddin told reporters on Monday, 23 February 2026.

Nasaruddin subsequently visited the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to report the suspected gratuity in the form of the private jet facility.

He said he was prepared to accept any consequences from the KPK regarding his acceptance of the flight facility from OSO.

“If there are indeed consequences, we must be ready to take responsibility,” he said.

Meanwhile, KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo, who accompanied Nasaruddin during the press statement, drew three conclusions from the gratuity report.

“First, how a minister as a state official must have a strong commitment to eradicating corruption, particularly with regard to prevention efforts. One way is by reporting gratuities from the outset,” Budi said.

Second, the gratuity report serves as a positive example for all state officials and civil servants across Indonesia.

“Third, this also serves as public education for the wider community and private parties not to give gifts or other forms of benefits to state officials or civil servants,” he added.

Previously, on 16 February 2026, social media platform X was abuzz with reports about the Religious Affairs Minister’s use of a private jet.

On the same date, the Head of Public Relations and Communications at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Thobib Al Asyhar, explained that the minister had used the private jet during a visit to Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi, on 15 February 2026.

Thobib further explained that the private jet belonged to national figure Oesman Sapta Odang, who had lent it to the minister for reasons of time efficiency.