Yaqut Reported To The KPK Regarding Accepting Payments Of IDR 7 Million/Day As Hajj Supervisor, Spokesperson Gives Explanation

ILLUSTRATION BETWEEN

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Anna Hasbie, asked the Coordinator of the Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman to straighten out his report to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) today.

This was conveyed by Anna in response to a report against Yaqut by MAKI regarding the alleged corruption in quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 taham Hajj at the Ministry of Religion.

One of them, regarding the receipt of Rp7 million/day money by the former minister when he was the supervisor of the Hajj in 2024 along with dozens of other people.

"The allegations regarding the daily money of Rp. 7 million per person need to be straightened out," Anna said in a written statement, Friday, September 12 evening.

Anna said the honorarium and team travel costs had been officially regulated in PMA No. 24 of 2017. The implementation is claimed to be in accordance with the legal basis and can be audited.

"Calling this as an allegation of corruption is a premature, fabricated, and misleading accusation by the public," he said.

Boyamin also said that Anna did not know about the regulations by stating that the Minister of Religion and staff in particular should not be the supervisor of Hajj.

The law actually states that Yaqut has the right to become an amirul hajj and is tasked with ensuring that the implementation of worship in the Holy Land runs smoothly.

Moreover, this amirul hajj is always there every year and is in accordance with Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah.

"The main task of amirul hajj is to lead the Indonesian Hajj mission and ensure the smooth implementation, assisted by a team which is formed every year by the composition of six elements of the government and six elements of Islamic organizations," he said.

Anna also said that internal supervision of the implementation of the Hajj was still carried out by the Inspectorate General of the Ministry of Religion (APIP). Meanwhile, external supervision remains with the competent authorities such as the DPR, BPK, and BPKP.

"There is no overlap, let alone violation of the law," Anna said

"We emphasize that what is carried out by the Minister of Religion as an amirul hajj and his team is in accordance with the provisions of the laws and official state governance," he continued.

Meanwhile, Boyamin visited the KPK 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 Hajj implementers.

"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.