The Number Of Quota For Hajj Officers Sold To Prospective Congregants In The KPK

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the number of quotas of officers sold to special pilgrims. The process is by examining travel agents or travel agents who organize special Hajj (PIHK) and associations.

"This is still being investigated because currently investigators are still investigating other PIHKs," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday, October 8.

Budi said the sale of quotas for hajj officers that did not match this allocation had an impact on the implementation of worship in the Holy Land. "Hajj officers are in terms of reduced quantities," he said.

Furthermore, the anti-corruption commission suspects that the travel agent for the Hajj organizers actually knows about the quota of these officers.

"Because there are provisions or limits. For example, with a total of 40 worshipers must be accompanied by assistant officers, health workers then there are other service officers," said Budi.

"However, out of that provision, PIHK then sells quotas that should be specifically for hajj officers to be traded to other prospective pilgrims," he continued.

Previously reported, the KPK is investigating allegations of corruption related to quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). No suspects have been named for using a general investigation warrant (sprindik).

The generalized 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 the queues of 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.