Jokowi Summons Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut to Palace

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi summoned the Religious Affairs Minister to the Palace in Jakarta on Friday morning, July 19, 2024. Yaqut arrived around 9:12 Jakarta time (WIB) but left shortly after, at 10:05 WIB.

When questioned by reporters about the meeting's topics, Yaqut remained tight-lipped. “I was reporting on my work at the Religious Affairs Ministry. There's a lot to be done,” he said.

He dodged further inquiries, including those regarding the Special Hajj Committee formed by the House of Representatives (DPR) to investigate alleged corruption in the transfer of quotas for the 2024 regular Hajj pilgrimage.

“I briefed the President on my duties at the Ministry,” he repeated.

Yaqut has come under scrutiny following a DPR monitoring team's questioning of the Ministry's decision to transfer a portion of the regular Hajj quota to the Special Hajj program. This move, exceeding the 20,000 quota limit and lacking approval from the DPR Commission VIII, is seen as a violation of Law No. 8 of 2019 concerning Hajj and Umrah implementation.

Article 64(2) of the law mandates a special Hajj quota capped at 8% of total Hajj allocation. The additional transfer pushes the special quota beyond this limit, fueling corruption suspicions within Commission VIII.

Luluk Nur Hamidah, a member of the DPR, confirmed that the Special Committee for Hajj would investigate these allegations. “The probe will also examine potential issues like bribery and gratification,” she stated at the Parliament Complex in Senayan on July 11, 2024.

Last Tuesday, Minister Yaqut pledged cooperation with the investigation. “This is a constitutionally guaranteed process, and we will comply,” he stated at the Palace on July 16. 

RIRI RAHAYU

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