MAKI Gives Data To The KPK Regarding Corruption Of Hajj Quota, Yaqut Ex-Menag Is Suspected Of Being A Supervisor Paid IDR 7 Million/Day

Coordinator Of The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman visited the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) today.

He provided documents related to the alleged corruption of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 to the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) which dragged the former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to be followed up.

"I came to the KPK to add data related to allegations of corruption in the implementation of the Hajj," Boyamin told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, Friday, September 12.

The document submitted is Letter of Assignment Number 956 of 2024 made by the Inspector General of the Ministry of Religion. In it, Boyamin said, there were a number of officials including Yaqut who were the supervisors for Hajj implementers.

"So, the Minister of Religion and the Special Staff cannot be a supervisor, especially since the Minister has become an amirul hajj, has been financed by the state for accommodation and daily money," he said.

A total of 15 people, including Yaqut, are the supervisors of the hajj. Boyamin said they were all paid Rp. 7 million per day to do work that shouldn't be the domain.

"This is also given daily money as a supervisor, a day of Rp. 7 million, yes, multiplied by 15 days, yes how much is that," said Boyamin.

Boyamin explained that Yaqut and the Ministry of Religion should not be supervisors in organizing the hajj.

"External supervisors are the DPR, BPK, and BPKP, all kinds of things, the internal supervisors are from APIP, APIP are Inspectorate General, inspectors, supervisors are the Ministry of Religion," he said.

This position also makes Yaqut and other Ministry of Religion employees receive more income from the state. In fact, the former Minister of Religion's accommodation in the journey of monitoring the pilgrimage has been paid by the state.

"Well, if he is a supervisor, money is also received, which means double budget. Both are not allowed, given the task of supervising it is not allowed, double budget is also not allowed," explained Boyamin.

Boyamin admitted that he included all the names of the officials he suspected were being supervisors. It is hoped that the KPK will immediately follow up.

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.