KPK Ensures Alleged Corruption In Hajj Implementation Rises Investigation This Month

Acting Deputy For Enforcement And Execution Of The KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said the investigation into the alleged corruption in the implementation of the hajj will soon be completed. The process was even promised not until the end of this month.

This was conveyed by the acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu after asking for information from former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas today. Asep ensured that the investigation had entered its final stage.

The KPK has examined several parties, including travel agents or travel agents to employees at the Ministry of Religion before examining Yaqut.

"This is close to completion," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, August 7 evening.

"Hopefully, in the not too distant future or not past August, we will increase it to an investigation," he continued.

Meanwhile, after being questioned, Yaqut stated that he had provided the necessary information in front of investigators. He admitted that he explained about the alleged problem with the Hajj quota.

"Yes, thank God, I am grateful that I finally got the opportunity, got the opportunity to clarify everything, especially those related to the distribution of additional quotas in the 2024 Hajj process," Yaqut told reporters at the location.

Yaqut said there were many questions submitted by KPK investigators. However, he did not want to elaborate.

He was only grateful that the KPK could hear the issue of the hajj quota. "Regarding the material, I will not convey it, I apologize," he said.

"The point is that I am grateful to have the opportunity to be able to explain, clarify everything related to last year's quota distribution," continued Yaqut.

As previously reported, the KPK indicated that the corruption investigation into the implementation of the pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion would soon enter a new chapter. This allegation was known several times and dragged the name of former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

The acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu said this allegation stemmed from the request for additional Hajj quotas communicated between the Indonesian-Saudi Arabia governments. This step is to reduce the queue for pilgrims.

"This is to shorten, cut it, the quota must be enlarged, there must be more departing. Well, if I'm not mistaken 20 thousand, yes, 20 thousand," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted Friday, July 25.

The addition of quotas from the Saudi Arabian government was problematic. "There are rules that the quota is 8 and 92. If I'm not mistaken, please correct me, 8 percent for special Hajj and 92 percent for regularity," he said.

"But then it turned out to be divided into two, good luck like that," continued Asep.

During the investigation, the KPK has summoned a number of parties. Apart from the Hajj and Umrah travel agents or travel agents, RFA, MAS, and AM were also summoned by the Ministry of Religion.