Former Minister Of Religion Yaqut Admits Explaining The Distribution Of The 2024 Hajj Quota To KPK Investigators

Former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas at the KPK Building (Wardhany Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has undergone a request for information at the Red and White building of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta today, August 7. He admitted that he had explained about the distribution of the 2024 hajj quota to investigators.

Yaqut is known to have been questioned regarding the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Hajj which is still under investigation. He was at the anti-corruption commission office about 4.5 hours from 09.30 to 14.30 WIB.

"Yes, thank God, I am grateful that I finally got the opportunity, got the opportunity to clarify everything, especially those related to the distribution of additional quotas in the 2024 Hajj process," Yaqut told reporters at the location.

There were many questions submitted by KPK investigator, Yaqut said. But, he didn't want to go into details.

He only thanked the KPK for being able to hear the issue of the hajj quota.

"Regarding the material, I will not convey it, I apologize," he said.

"The point is I'm grateful to have the opportunity to be able to explain, clarify everything related to last year's quota distribution," continued Yaqut.

Meanwhile, Yaqut Spokesperson, Anna Hasbi, said that the distribution of the 2024 hajj quota by the Ministry of Religion was in accordance with the applicable laws. Initially, he explained that the process of distributing regular and special Hajj was indeed complicated and would be explained in front of investigators.

"So in him he will provide information and explain about the process of how the quota is divided because the distribution of quotas is indeed quite complicated," Anna told reporters at the location.

Anna then said that the distribution of quotas suspected of having problems until being investigated by the KPK was appropriate.

"The hajj distribution has been carried out according to the applicable law. So the process is indeed quite long," he said.

"That's why he gave a statement, he will explain how the process was carried out because it was not a once-in-a-time process. So it was indeed a long process," Anna continued.

As previously reported, the KPK indicated that the corruption investigation into the implementation of the pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion would soon enter a new chapter. This allegation was known several times and dragged the name of former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

The acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu said this allegation stemmed from the request for additional Hajj quotas communicated between the Indonesian-Saudi Arabia governments. This step is to reduce the queue for pilgrims.

"This is to shorten, cut it, the quota must be enlarged, there must be more departing. Well, if I'm not mistaken 20 thousand, yes, 20 thousand," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted Friday, July 25.

The addition of quotas from the Saudi Arabian government was problematic. "There are rules that the quota is 8 and 92. If I'm not mistaken, please correct me, 8 percent for special Hajj and 92 percent for regularity," he said.

"But then it turned out to be divided into two, good luck like that," continued Asep.

During the investigation, the KPK has summoned a number of parties. Apart from the Hajj and Umrah travel agents or travel agents, RFA, MAS, and AM were also summoned by the Ministry of Religion.