Kiai Supports KPK To Immediately Determine Corruption Suspect Hajj Quota: Don't Ngalor Ngidul

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been urged to immediately determine a suspect in the alleged corruption of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). Do not let this case hang and not touch parties who must be responsible.

This was conveyed by Kiai Haji Abdul Muhaimin, who is a member of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) after an audience with the KPK at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, September 26.

"The corruption should be part of an extraordinary crime that must be dealt with completely transparently and fairly, but do not lose the wisdom," Kiai Abdul told reporters at the location.

Kiai Abdul said the determination of this suspect was important. "KPK explanations should not touch institutions that are not all involved in just a few people, but throughout Indonesia finally complains to me about how these maps and anatomy are," he said.

"It must be clearly stated immediately," continued Kiai Abdul.

Kiai Abdul and his entourage also had time to ask when the KPK would determine the suspect.

"Don't fry ngalor like this," he said.

The kiai who attended also prayed for the KPK as a form of support in an effort to investigate alleged corruption in the hajj quota. "Hopefully the KPK will remain upright and quickly resolved, so it will not be fried," said Kiai Abdul.

Meanwhile, KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo agreed to have discussions with the kiai from PBNU who were present. However, the determination of the suspect in the corruption case of the hajj quota cannot be done carelessly.

"We are both waiting for the process because the investigation is still ongoing where investigators this week are still intensively conducting examinations, requesting information from parties, especially travel agencies that organize special Hajj services or PIHK in the East Java region," he said on a separate occasion.

"Later, the information that has been obtained in the examination this week will be investigated and analyzed," he continued.

Previously reported, the KPK said that allegations of corruption related to quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) would enter a new chapter. In the near future, the suspects will be determined because the process is running using a general investigation warrant (sprindik) and announced.

The general Sprindik uses Article 2 Paragraph 1 and/or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. This means that there are state losses that occur due to this corrupt practice. State losses in the case of corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj for the period 2023-2024 are said to reach more than Rp1 trillion. This number is still increasing because it is only the initial calculation of the KPK that continues to coordinate with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

This case stems from the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to reduce queues for pilgrims. However, the distribution turned out to be problematic because it was divided equally, namely 50 percent for regular Hajj and 50 percent for special Hajj based on the Decree (SK) of the Minister of Religion signed by Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

In fact, based on the law, the distribution should be 92 percent for regular Hajj and 8 percent for special Hajj.

Later, the distribution of problems was allegedly due to money from the Hajj and Umrah travel parties as well as the associations that oversee the Ministry of Religion. After getting the allotment, they sold the additional quota to prospective pilgrims.

During the investigation process, a number of parties have been questioned, including Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. Investigators have also searched his house and found documents and electronic evidence that are suspected to be related.