KPK Finds Out Regular Hajj Implementation After Additional Quota Is Divided Not According To The Rules

Saiful Mujab, Former Director Of Domestic Hajj Services Of The Directorate Of Hajj And Umrah Services Of The Ministry Of Religion/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the implementation of regular Hajj after 20,000 additional quota rations given by the Saudi Arabian government were divided out not according to the rules.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said the investigation was carried out by examining Saiful Mujab, the former Director of Domestic Hajj Services at the Directorate of Hajj and Umrah Services at the Ministry of Religion. The request for information as a witness in the corruption case of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 was carried out at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta today, October 8.

"Investigators are investigating the implementation of the regular pilgrimage," Budi told reporters at his office, Wednesday, October 8.

Budi emphasized that information related to the implementation of regular Hajj was deemed important. "Because this is also one of the affected or exported from the discretion of the distribution of additional quotas," he said.

"Dimata, the proper regular hajj quota based on the regulations or laws, can plot 92 percent," continued Budi.

Budi also explained that investigators explored several other things from Saiful Mujab. One of them is about the discretion to distribute a 50 percent quota for special Hajj quotas and 50 percent for regular Hajj.

"Of course this examination also complements the statements of the previous witnesses who have been summoned," he said.

Meanwhile, Saiful Mujab chose to be economical after undergoing an examination at the KPK office. He did not give any answers, including the issue of the flow of money to the Ministry of Religion from the special Hajj (PIHK) organizers.

"He is known to have undergone an examination from 09.00 WIB until around 14.30 WIB. "Yes, no, I don't have to," said Saiful, who now serves as Head of the Central Java Ministry of Religion's Regional Office (Kakanwil) while walking out of the KPK's Red and White building quickly.

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 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.