Minister Of Religion Yaqut Cholil Reported Student Activists To The KPK Regarding Allegations Of Corruption In The 2024 Hajj Quota

United UBK Student Activist Movement (GAMBU) at the KPK Red and White building/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his deputy, Saiful Rahmat Dasuki, were reported to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The United UBK Student Activist Movement (GAMBU) suspects that there has been abuse of authority related to the transfer of the regular Hajj quota to a special level of 50 percent unilaterally.

"We as the reporter ask the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to welcome the reported parties and related parties to be examined in accordance with applicable legal provisions," said GAMBU Chairman Arya at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday 31 July.

The transfer of this quota is said to have violated Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah. Because the special quota should only be eight percent, said Arya.

Therefore, GAMBU was surprised and sad about the transfer of the quota. This is because the Hajj Committee Meeting related to the 2024 Hajj Organizing Fee (BPIH) with the Minister of Religion on November 27, 2023 agreed on the 2024 Indonesian Hajj quota of 241,000 pilgrims with details of the regular hajj pilgrims as many as 221,720 people and 19,280 special Hajj pilgrims.

However, Arya said that the number changed and was known during the DPR Commission VIII Hearing Meeting with the Director General of Hajj and Umrah on May 20, 2024. The Ministry of Religion unilaterally set the regular hajj quota to 213,320 and the special hajj quota to 27,680.

"Because there is an allegation that a Minister who commits acts against the law and abuses his authority and circumvents the rules by establishing a hajj quota policy without consulting with the DPR," he said.

Not only reporting, GAMBU also encouraged the DPR's Hajj Angket Special Committee to immediately dismantle the chaotic hajj quota. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was also asked to pay attention to this issue.

Previously reported, the KPK had stated that it was ready to take care of the chaos in the implementation of the pilgrimage. This was conveyed by KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardika when appreciating the establishment of the Special Committee (Pansus) for Hajj Supervision in the DPR RI.

"KPK welcomes the special committee that was made positively. Of course, if later there is a request from the DPR for assistance from the KPK," said Tessa to reporters, Friday, July 12.

"We will see in the capacity of whether the KPK can assist these activities," he continued.