KPK Calls Khalid Basalamah's Group Departing For Hajj Using Special Quota For Problems

The owner of the Uhud Tour travel agency, Khalid Zeed Abdullah or Khalid Basalamah/DOK PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that the preacher who is also the owner of Uhud Tour, Khalid Zeed Abdullah or Khalid Basalamah, and his entourage left for the Holy Land using a special problematic hajj quota.

This statement was conveyed by the acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu when asked about the material investigated by investigators after examining Khalid on Tuesday, September 9. He said the preacher departed with his congregation in 2024.

"Regarding the examination of KB's brother, we examined the person concerned as a fact witness," Asep said, starting his statement to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday, September 10.

"... Because in the Hajj and Umrah groups there are usually ustaz who are the guides there," he continued.

Asep agrees that the group previously departed using a furoda visa whose quota was based on an invitation from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

However, recently they actually used a special hajj quota whose distribution was problematic and the case was being handled by investigators. This condition, called Asep, is unknown to the congregation.

This problem is known to arise because the additional 20,000 Hajj quota from the Saudi Arabian government is actually divided by an average of 50 percent for special and regular Hajj. Thus, there are rules that are violated because they are not in accordance with the law and it is suspected that there was a sale and purchase after the Minister of Religion at that time, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas issued a decree.

"I mean, yes, the important thing is, yes, go like that (I want, red) special Hajj and others," he said.

"So then it was said that, oh, I felt cheated like that. I wanted to go with a furoda hajj order but it turned out that using a special hajj quota, which was originally used for 20,000, one of which was for the KB Ustaz group with another group," explained Asep, who also serves as Director of KPK Investigation.

In the future, the KPK will explore the departure of Indonesian pilgrims who use the special problematic quota. Including, how much money must be paid by pilgrims and each travel agency.

Meanwhile, Khalid Basamalah admitted that he departed with hundreds of his worshipers using a special hajj quota. In fact, he usually departs on a furodic hajj visa.

This preacher admitted to diverting departures by using a special hajj quota after receiving an offer from Ibnu Masud who is a Commissioner of PT Muhibbah Mulia Wisata.

"A person named Ibnu Masud who owns PT Muhibbah from Pekanbaru offered us this visa so that, finally, we participated with the visa on his trip in Muhibbah. So we were registered as pilgrims there," Khalid said after undergoing an examination for 7.5 hours from 11.03 to 18.48 WIB at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, September 9.

"I am a congregation at PT Muhibbah, which belongs to Ibnu Mas'ud. So, our position is actually a victim of PT Muhibbah which is owned by Ibnu Mas'ud. We were all furodes. Well, it was offered to move using this visa, "continued Khalid.

Khalid admitted that he did not know that this special hajj quota was problematic and the case was handled by the KPK.

"The language is Ibnu Masud to us, PT Muhibah (can get, red) an additional quota of 20,000 from the Ministry of Religion. Because we received an official discussion from the Ministry of Religion and I was registered as a congregation at PT Muhibbah," he said.

Uhud Tour is claimed by Khalid to not get an additional hajj quota. Because his Hajj and Umrah travel does not have a permit as a special hajj organizer (PIHK).

Previously reported, the KPK has issued a general investigation warrant (sprindik) for alleged corruption in the addition of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024. This institution reasoned that the issuance was carried out so that they could make forced efforts.

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 amount 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 began with 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.

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.