THE long-awaited news from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding the determination of a suspect in the alleged corruption case for the 2024 Hajj supplementary quota has finally arrived. The Corruption Eradication Committee suspects former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in a case that reportedly cost the state up to IDR 1,000 billion.
The naming of Yaqut as a suspect is not surprising. The Minister of Religion during President Joko Widodo’s time was questioned three times by the Corruption Eradication Committee. Immigration authorities also banned Yaqut from traveling abroad at the request of the Corruption Eradication Commission.
Although the determination of the suspect was predictable, the alleged corruption case in the Hajj supplementary quota shocked and tore the integrity of the nation. Institutions and their senior leaders, who should be at the forefront of morality, have instead fallen back into material lust.
The irony of trading this “road to heaven” in a secular manner proves that the virus of corruption does not recognize the boundaries of morality constructed by religious institutions.
History shows that cases of corruption in the religious field are not new. We must remind the public of Said Agil Husin Al Munawar who was arrested in the Ummah Endowment Fund (DAU) case, then Suryadharma Ali who was arrested in the corruption case during the organization of the 2012-2013 Hajj. At that time, they were ministers of religion.
Corruption in the Hajj 2024 additional quota is a clear form of betrayal of Law No. 8 of 2019 regarding the implementation of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage, which was updated with Law No. 14 of 2025.
The law firmly requires that the implementation of Hajj be based on justice, professionalism, transparency and accountability.
When the quota, which is the right of people who have been waiting in line for decades, is allegedly manipulated for personal or collective gain, the perpetrator not only violates state law, but also violates the spiritual human rights of the people.
Our constitution, the 1945 Constitution, Article 29, paragraph (2), guarantees the freedom of every citizen to embrace his own religion and to worship according to his religion and beliefs. As part of the Hajj, the State must be present to facilitate the implementation of this pilgrimage in a clean and transparent manner.
Corruption in the organization of Hajj is a form of sabotage of these constitutional obligations. How can we maintain the integrity that testifies to the morality of the nation if the religious procession to the Holy Land is polluted by the reckless practices of national organizers?
We appreciate the KPK’s steps to finally have the courage to name a suspect. However, announcing a former minister as a suspect is only the first step.
The corruption of Hajj quotas, technically and bureaucratically, is of course supported by the ecosystem that allows this to happen. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has repeatedly revealed fraudulent money flow to Hajj travel agencies that benefit from the special additional Hajj quota. There has also been speculation about which party gave Yaqut this order.
The investigation must be conducted thoroughly and transparently in order to provide a sense of justice to the millions of potential Hajj pilgrims who have been wronged.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which is now the sponsor of the Hajj, reminds you to respect the principles prescribed by law.
The integrity of the nation costs too much to be exchanged for additional currency from the Hajj quota. This case is a test of courage for the Corruption Eradication Commission, can the law only affect the executor, or dare to drag in the director? Do not let the face of religion continue to be a mask for material worshipers.
Source: ex bulletin
