Yaqut Challenges KPK to Be Transparent: Which State Funds Were Reduced by Hajj Quota Allocation?
Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has demanded that the state losses in the alleged corruption case concerning Indonesia’s 2023-2024 Hajj quota be explained openly and in detail. Yaqut challenged the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to be transparent about the state losses from the Hajj quota allocation for which he has been indicted.
“It is also not explained which state funds were reduced by the process of implementing this Hajj quota allocation and so forth. This must be proven clearly and transparently,” Yaqut said at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (18/8/2026).
According to Yaqut, the state losses in the indictment are only stated as amounting to Rp 622.09 billion without any explanation of the calculation method. Nevertheless, he said he respects the legal process and will follow it in accordance with applicable regulations.
Yaqut assessed that the indictment against him in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case is unclear, imprecise, and incomplete. He said the indictment conflates ministerial policy with technical policy, which he argues falls under the authority of the director general.
Therefore, Yaqut argued that the matter of Hajj quota allocation is part of government policy. Yaqut also claimed he never ordered his subordinates to commit corruption, engage in the buying and selling of Hajj quotas, or relax regulations.
“No, I never did that. What I emphasised was actually the opposite — that no corrupt acts should be permitted,” he said.
During his tenure as religious affairs minister, Yaqut said he consistently stressed to his subordinates that the implementation and preparation of the Hajj pilgrimage should prioritise the comfort and safety of pilgrims.
In this case, Yaqut is charged with causing state financial losses of Rp 622.09 billion through the diversion and arrangement of the allocation of an additional 50 percent special Hajj quota for 2024 without a technical study basis.