There are Other Activities, Muhadjir Effendy Requests KPK to Schedule Re-Examination

Muhadjir Effendy/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will reschedule the summons of the former Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Muhadjir Effendy, which was supposed to be carried out today. Muhadjir confirmed that he was unable to attend as a witness to the alleged corruption in determining quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

"The person concerned has confirmed and requested a postponement of the examination. The investigator will reschedule the examination," said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters through his written statement, Monday, May 18.

Budi said, in his confirmation, Muhadjir admitted that there was a scheduled agenda first. In this case, Muhadjir was examined in his capacity as Interim Minister of Religion.

For information, Muhadjir who is currently carrying out duties as Special Advisor to the President for Hajj Affairs is known to have been appointed by Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in 2022 as the Interim Minister of Religion. This moment occurred when Yaqut departed for Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj.

"The person concerned has been scheduled for other agendas, so he cannot meet the call for inspection today," said Budi.

Even so, Budi has not explained when the examination of Muhadjir was carried out. He only confirmed that the request for information would be carried out.

"Bearing in mind the principle that every testimony from witnesses is certainly needed in the investigation process for this case."

The KPK previously named two new suspects in the Hajj quota corruption case, namely Ismail Adhan as the Director of Operations of Maktour Travel and Asrul Azis Taba who is the former General Chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Travel Association (Kesthuri). The two are suspected of plotting to get additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi government even giving money.

Ismail is said to have given money to Ishfah Abidal Azis, who is a former special staff of the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas worth 30 thousand US dollars. Then, he gave money to Abdul Latief as the Director General of Haji and Umrah (Dirjen PHU) Ministry of Religion with details of 5,000 US dollars and 16,000 Saudi riyals.

This act then made Maktour obtain an illegal profit in 2024 worth Rp. 27.8 billion.

Meanwhile, Asrul is said to have given money worth 406 thousand US dollars. From this gift, eight special haj organizers (PIHK) under the auspices of Kesthuri received illegal profits of up to Rp. 40.8 billion.

The determination of the two is an expansion of the corruption case of the haj quota which had previously ensnared Yaqut and Ishfah. This corruption allegation began with the provision of 20,000 additional haj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government to Indonesia in 2023-2024.