Muhadjir Effendy's Reason for Suddenly Answering the KPK's Call: He Will Be Perceived as Avoiding It If He Requests a Delay

Former Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Muhadjir Effendy/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy said he had asked the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to reschedule his examination today. But, he did not want to be considered evasive so that he could meet the investigators' call in the afternoon.

This was conveyed by Muhadjir, who is now serving as the President's Special Advisor for Hajj Affairs after being examined at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta. He finished the examination at around 19.44 WIB or about two hours.

"Yes, I actually have applied for a postponement, but because there was news from you all, it was not good. Why, I postponed, there will be an impression that I am avoiding or what, yes, I have asked for time to meet now," said Muhadjir to reporters at the KPK office, Monday, May 18.

Muhadjir admitted that he was questioned regarding his position as Interim Minister of Religion in 2022 or when Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was in Saudi Arabia. However, he did not want to detail the contents of the examination.

"Oh not much (the question, ed). I'm only Ad Interim for 20 days. June 30 to July 19. ... not much has been done," he said.

Meanwhile, KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo has not yet informed about the material investigated from the examination. He only informed that Muhadjir would not attend and would be rescheduled because his testimony was needed to investigate the alleged corruption in determining quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj in the Ministry of Religion.

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 Hajj Umrah RI Hajj Umrah (Kesthuri).

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 two are known to be suspects after the KPK first ensnared Yaqut and Ishfah. This suspected corruption began with the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government to Indonesia in 2023-2024.