Suryadharma Ali Officially Resigns From The Position Of Minister Of Religion In Today's Memory, May 28, 2014

JAKARTA - Today's memory, 10 years ago, May 28, 2014, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) officially accepted the resignation of Suryadharma Ali as Minister of Religion (Menag). The resignation is considered a way to restore trust and trust in the position of Minister of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia.

Previously, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Suryadharma as a suspect in the 2012-2013 Hajj fund corruption case. This determination has tarnished the name of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). The Indonesian people became excited.

The implementation of the pilgrimage requires great responsibility. This condition makes the Ministry of Religion often busy every year. They are in accordance with the Hajj Law (Law Number 34 of 2009) stated that they have the authority, both as regulators and operators of Hajj.

The legal product in fact brings a lot of harm, rather than profit. The Ministry of Religion as the Hajj operator is considered not to work optimally. Many of the Hajj congregants are booming every year. The Ministry of Religion has not yet managed the Hajj money which reaches IDR 70 trillion every year plus the interest that has the potential to become a target of corruption.

This narrative was proven by the success of the KPK in detecting allegations of corruption in funds for organizing the Hajj in 2012-2013. This incident made the KPK conduct a deeper investigation. As a result, there are many pieces of evidence that explain that Minister of Religion Suryadharma has contributed to the corruption of hajj funds.

The KPK then named Suryadharma as a corruption suspect on May 22, 2014. The determination was because Suryadharma was strongly suspected of having contributed to the corruption of the funds for organizing the Hajj in 2010-2013. Suryadharma was involved in determining the hajj organizers (PPIH), the appointment of a companion officer amirul hajj, accommodation, and utilizing the remaining hajj quota.

Suryadharma tried to defend himself. He revealed that the affairs of organizing the hajj were not easy. The Ministry of Religion must take care of around 194 thousand pilgrims. He also handed over the entire investigation process to the KPK.

"I leave all of that to the KPK, which is currently conducting an investigation. I can't reach too much detail, down, because organizing Hajj with a total of 194 thousand Hajj pilgrims is not an easy job.

"That was also asked of me. I don't know exactly if there is such a game being carried out by Commission VIII. I don't know if any member of Commission VIII is doing these businesses. That's where the problem arises, including housing (housing) which is categorized as bad. The housing is owned by one person and we were asked to take it or not take everything. Our housing team felt pressured because it was tied in time and competitors from other countries who also needed a house," said Suryadharma as quoted by the ANTARA page, May 22, 2014.

The status of the suspect Suryadharma has received attention from all over Indonesia. President SBY is included in it. The SBY government asked Suryadharma to take responsibility for the case that happened to him. The government asked Suryadharma to resign immediately. Bak tits to welcome Surya and then came to SBY to declare his intention to resign at the Bogor Palace on May 26, 2014.

SBY also asked Suryadharma to make a written resignation letter. The resignation letter was then submitted. President SBY also officially accepted Suryadharma's resignation from the position of Minister of Religion on May 28, 2014. The resignation was considered a form of responsibility so that the Ministry of Religion would not be tarnished by the bad image.

"We have received through the Ministers-Secretary of State Sudi Silalahi at the Bogor Palace. The Minister of People's Welfare Coordination, Agung Laksono, acts as Minister of Religion ad interim," said Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha, quoted on the Tempo.co page, May 28, 2014.