Playing A Role When Distributing Additional Hajj Quota Is The Reason For The KPK To Prevent Maktour Bosses From Going Abroad

KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that three people who were prevented from leaving the country in the alleged corruption of quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 Hajj pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) had their respective roles. Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the owner of the Maktour Hajj organizing bureau, for example, allegedly played a role in the process of determining the distribution of additional quotas.

As for this case, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex who was special staff when Yaqut served as Minister of Religion, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur had been prevented from leaving the country some time ago.

"This is a pre- and post-investigation. Pre-discretion means it is related to whether there are motives, initiatives and encouragements (in the distribution of an additional 20,000 Hajj quota from Saudi Arabia, ed). But if the deepening is about post-discretion, it means the distribution of the special additional quota," said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters, Wednesday, December 3.

"Well, what is done is to prevent foreign affairs, one of which is from the MT travel, the private sector," continued Budi.

Budi said that post-provision of discretion is important for investigators to do. Moreover, referring to Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah, 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government should be divided into 92 percent for regular Hajj and 8 percent for special Hajj.

However, recently the hajj quota was divided equally or 50 percent for the regular hajj quota and 50 percent for the special hajj quota.

The special hajj quota managed by the PIHK has increased from the original 8 percent or 1,600 to 10.000. This means that there are an additional 8.400 quotas. That's why the KPK is exploring whether the discretionary processes carried out by the Ministry of Religion are purely top-down or bottom-up or both," explained Budi.

Budi ensured that investigators continued to investigate the alleged corruption in this hajj quota. Including exploring the role of Fuad both as a travel owner and a member of the association.

"Because this association then includes the PIHK. Where are the administrators as well as the owners of the PIHK or owners of the travel bureau," he said.

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 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 number is still increasing because it is only the initial calculation of the KPK which continues to coordinate with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

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.

Then, checks were also carried out on hundreds of travel agents or travel agents who organize special Hajj (PIHK) and confiscated money from them. However, the anti-corruption commission has not detailed the amount because the calculation is still being carried out by investigators.