Former Interim Religious Affairs Minister Muhadjir Implicates President Jokowi in Hajj Quota Bribery Trial

In a bribery trial concerning the allocation of additional Hajj quotas in Indonesia, former interim Religious Affairs Minister Muhadjir Effendy has suggested the involvement of then-President Joko Widodo in the decision to convert 10,000 Hajj slots to private special Hajj packages in 2022. The testimony was given at a corruption court in Jakarta on September 1, 2026. Muhadjir confirmed signing a letter to the Saudi Arabian Ambassador in 2022, during his tenure as interim minister. This letter, numbered B-206 dated July 4, 2022, and addressed to Saudi Ambassador Syekh Essam bin Abed Al-Thaqafi, pertained to the transfer of 10,000 additional Hajj quotas, originally allocated for the regular Hajj, to be converted into invitation visas (mujamalah) or special Hajj packages managed by private travel agencies. According to Muhadjir, the proposal for this quota transfer originated from the Forum Silaturahmi Asosiasi Travel Haji dan Umrah (Forum Sathu), an association of Hajj and Umrah travel agencies. Fuad Hasan Masyhur, the leader of Forum Sathu, met Muhadjir at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture office and explained that the Ministry of Religious Affairs could not execute the additional 10,000 quota due to technical and financial constraints, thus requesting the conversion to invitation visas or Special Hajj Organizer (PIHK) managed packages. Muhadjir testified that he consulted President Joko Widodo about the proposal. "The President said, 'If it's possible, go ahead and try.' Because it's not easy to get an additional 10,000 slots and it would be a shame to waste them," he stated. When questioned by the presiding judge, Ni Kadek Susantiani, about whether the President's directive was in writing, Muhadjir replied, "It was verbal. There was no written document." Muhadjir denied any personal relationship with Fuad Hasan or having received any money or benefits for Umrah travel from him, explaining that he dealt with him as part of an industry association. The case involves Asrul Aziz Taba, former chairman of Forum Sathu, as a defendant. Muhadjir is also scheduled to testify in other related trials, including those against former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, his former special staff Ishfah Abidal Azis alias Gus Alex, and Ismail Adham, Director of Operations at PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour). The prosecution plans to call a total of 303 witnesses, including officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Special Hajj Organizers (PIHK), and seven experts. Source: Liputan6