MAKI's Complaint About The Former Minister Of Religion's Yaqut Being A Hajj Supervisor And Being Paid Will Be Followed Up By The KPK

Illustration. KPK Red and White Building. (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) ensures that every complaint from the public that enters will be followed up. Verification as a first step will be carried out.

This was conveyed by KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo when confirmed about the report by the Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman regarding the former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas allegedly receiving honorariums as Hajj supervisors in 2024.

"We make sure that every complaint report received by the KPK will then be verified for the validity of the information and information submitted by the reporter," Budi told reporters in a written statement, Friday, September 12.

After verification is carried out, Budi said, reviews and analysis will be carried out. To see the substance of whether (report, ed) is included in the alleged corruption crime, as well as the authority of the KPK or not," he said.

Even so, this report will not be published. Only Boyamin as the reporter will be given information on the follow-up carried out by the KPK.

"We cannot provide confirmation of the receipt of the report, including the identity of the reporter and the reporting material," said Budi.

"KPK expresses its gratitude and appreciation, because the report on complaints from the public is a form of public active involvement in efforts to eradicate corruption," he continued.

Meanwhile, Boyamin visited the anti-corruption commission office and provided documents in the form of Assignment Letter Number 956 of 2024 which was made by the Inspector General of the Ministry of Religion. This regulation mentions a number of officials including Yaqut as the supervisor of the Hajj.

"So, the Minister of Religion and the Special Staff cannot be a supervisor, especially since the Minister has become an amirul hajj, has been financed by the state for accommodation and daily money," Boyamin told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, Friday, September 12.

A total of 15 people, including Yaqut, are the supervisors of the hajj. Boyamin said they were all paid Rp. 7 million per day to do work that shouldn't be the domain.

"This is also given daily money as a supervisor, a day of Rp. 7 million, yes, multiplied by 15 days, yes how much is that," said Boyamin.

Boyamin explained that Yaqut and the Ministry of Religion should not be supervisors in organizing the hajj.

"External supervisors are the DPR, BPK, and BPKP, all kinds of things, the internal supervisors are from APIP, APIP are Inspectorate General, inspectors, supervisors are the Ministry of Religion," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK has issued a general investigation warrant (sprindik) for alleged corruption in the addition of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024. This institution reasoned that the issuance was carried out so that they could make forced efforts.

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 amount 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 began with 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.

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