The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Expresses The Point Of Prone To Hajj Management: Mark-Up On Accommodation Fees To Consumption

The logo of the KPK building in Kuningan, South Jakarta. (Between)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) assesses that the management of the pilgrimage must be considered because it is prone to corruption. There are a number of loopholes to commit fraud that have the potential to cause state losses.

"Strengthened several corruption-prone points in organizing Hajj in Indonesia, one example is mark-ups on accommodation costs, lodging, consumption costs, and Hajj supervision costs," said KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri in a written statement, Friday, January 6.

Firli said that they got this data from a study by the KPK Monitoring Directorate entitled 'Hajj Financial Management' in 2019. At that time, there was a price difference so that it could potentially cause state losses of up to Rp160 billion.

"The fact shows that there is a price difference starting from the cost of inpatient, it is quite high, including the cost of eating and the cost of monitoring the hajj. (Berpotential, ed) there was a state loss of Rp160 billion at that time," he said.

Furthermore, the KPK also revealed that the problem of determining the cost of organizing the Hajj (BPIH) was not in accordance with the provisions. Thus, Firli asked for the improvement of the hajj financing system to be carried out immediately.

He said, this aims to dispel the potential erosion of the principal funds deposited by the congregation. There are various eficiencies that can be done, such as cutting or eliminating unnecessary budgets.

"The omitted posts can be replaced or utilize available resources," said Firli.

Next, the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) was asked to improve the existing system. Every opportunity for corruption must be mitigated as soon as possible.

"If there are problems in the future, opportunities, or vulnerable to corruption, the system must be repaired," he concluded.