KPK Reminds Travel Agents To Be Cooperative When Examined Regarding Corruption Hajj Quota

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reminded all cooperative parties when examined regarding allegations of corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). No exception travel agents or travel agents for special Hajj organizers (PIHK).

The KPK has been examining a number of travel agents in the East Java region for a week. They are suspected of receiving a special problematic hajj quota whose regulation is based on a Decree (SK) of the Minister of Religion in the Yaqut Cholil Qoumas era.

"The travel bureaus or PIHKs will also be summoned by the KPK to be cooperative," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, September 26.

In addition, Budi also asked them to provide clear information. "So that the process of disclosing this case can run effectively," he said.

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 of the process that runs using a general investigation warrant (sprindik).

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 corruption case of quota and Hajj for the period 2023-2024 are said to have reached more than IDR 1 trillion. This number is still increasing because it is only the initial calculation of the KPK which 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.