The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has unveiled a deeply entrenched Hajj quota arrangement scheme, revealing its operations continued into 2023. In the unfolding investigation, the name of Fuad Hasan Masyhur has emerged as a central figure, with the KPK explicitly detailing his alleged role in the complex web of corruption.
So, what exactly was his involvement?
KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution, Asep Guntur Rahayu, elucidated that in May 2023, the Saudi Arabian government allocated an additional 8,000 Hajj pilgrim quotas to Indonesia. Upon learning of this significant allocation, Fuad Hasan, acting in his capacity as the Chairman of the Advisory Board for Forum SATHU (an association of Hajj and Umrah travel agencies), promptly dispatched a letter to Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, who was then serving as the Minister of Religious Affairs.
“Mr. FHM (Fuad Hasan Masyhur), as the Chairman of the Advisory Board for Forum SATHU, sent a letter to Mr. YCQ (Yaqut Cholil Qoumas) with the stated aim of ‘maximizing the absorption of the additional quota’,” Asep explained, as quoted on Friday (March 13).
Initially, during a joint meeting between Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Minister of Religious Affairs, it was agreed that this additional Hajj quota would be designated solely for regular pilgrims. However, Fuad Hasan, who is also the head of Maktour, a prominent travel agency, subsequently engaged in further correspondence with the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
“FHM (Fuad Hasan Masyhur) then communicated with Mr. HL (Hilman Latief), the Director General for Hajj and Umrah (PHU) Management, concerning Forum SATHU’s letter, reiterating that Forum SATHU was prepared to maximize the utilization of this additional quota,” Asep elaborated.
Following these communications, a new proposal surfaced suggesting that the 8,000 additional quotas should be split between regular and special Hajj pilgrims. “Subsequently, HL (Hilman Latief) proposed to YCQ (Yaqut Cholil Qoumas) that the additional Hajj quota be divided into 92% for regular pilgrims and 8% for special Hajj pilgrims, which contradicted the conclusions reached in the DPR meeting,” Asep stated.
“YCQ (Yaqut Cholil Qoumas) then approved this proposal, issuing Ministerial Decree (KMA) number 467 of 2023 on May 19, 2023, concerning the determination of the additional Hajj quota for 2023, with a composition of 7,360 quotas for regular Hajj and 640 quotas for special Hajj,” he continued. By the end of May 2023, another meeting between DPR Commission VIII and the Ministry of Religious Affairs ultimately endorsed this revised distribution, confirming 7,360 for regular Hajj and 640 for special Hajj.
Further complicating matters, a Decree from the Director General of PHU for 2023 was subsequently issued. This decree was allegedly orchestrated by Rizky Fisa Abadi, Head of the Sub-directorate for Licensing, Accreditation, and Special Hajj Management Development within the Ministry, under the direct guidance of Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, a special staff member to the Minister of Religious Affairs. This directive aimed to “loosen policies regarding T0 (newly registered, immediate departure) pilgrims,” Asep revealed.
Throughout May and June 2023, Rizky Fisa Abadi reportedly held meetings with various Special Hajj Organizers (PIHK) associations concerning the allocation of the 640 additional special Hajj quotas. He then proceeded to determine the pilgrim quotas for 54 PIHKs, allowing them to facilitate immediate departures without the usual waiting list. “RFA (Rizky Fisa Abadi) also granted special treatment to certain PIHKs, enabling them to fill the additional special Hajj quotas with T0 or TX (accelerated/non-sequential queue number) special Hajj pilgrims,” Asep clarified.
In exchange for these preferential arrangements, Rizky allegedly instructed his staff to collect “acceleration fees” from PIHKs that received special Hajj quotas for T0 or TX pilgrims. The fee was substantial, amounting to USD 5,000 or IDR 84.4 million per pilgrim. “One method used was to divert pilgrims initially holding *mujamalah* visas to the special Hajj program,” Asep noted. The KPK team’s investigation further revealed that “RFA (Rizky Fisa Abadi) also distributed these acceleration fees to YCQ (Yaqut Cholil Qoumas), IAA (Ishfah Abidal Aziz), and several other officials within the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” Asep added, without disclosing further specifics on the distribution.
What Benefits Did Fuad Hasan Allegedly Gain?
Asep clarified that Fuad Hasan chairs the Advisory Board of Forum SATHU, an umbrella organization for numerous Hajj and Umrah travel agencies. Regarding Fuad Hasan’s letter to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which expressed his readiness to “maximize the absorption of additional quotas,” Asep offered further insight. “As we know, embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage is a lifelong dream for many. So, regardless of the cost, there will always be those ready and able to undertake the Hajj. Where does this connect? It connects to financial profit,” Asep explained.
According to Asep, Fuad Hasan is suspected of being the mastermind behind the allocation of the additional Hajj quotas designated for special Hajj. “It comprised several travel agencies, including those belonging to the individual in question. Mr. FHM (Fuad Hasan Masyhur) then distributed these portions. However, if we follow the court proceedings, it might appear that his own travel agencies did not receive a significantly larger share compared to others. But in reality, those other travel agencies were effectively extensions of his own,” Asep detailed. “If it seems, ‘oh, his share was small,’ that’s not actually the case. He was the one doing the dividing,” he emphasized.
In connection with this ongoing case, the KPK has formally named former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, also known as Gus Yaqut, and his former special staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, or Gus Alex, as suspects.
Gus Yaqut was detained by the KPK following his examination on Thursday (March 12). Gus Alex, meanwhile, is scheduled for questioning next week. Upon his detention, Gus Yaqut firmly denied ever receiving any money from the Hajj quota scheme, asserting that his actions were solely driven by concern for pilgrim safety. As of now, Fuad Hasan has not issued any statement regarding his alleged involvement in the Hajj quota case as outlined by the KPK.
Summary
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has identified Fuad Hasan Masyhur as a central figure in an alleged Hajj quota arrangement scheme that continued into 2023. As Chairman of the Advisory Board for Forum SATHU, he sent a letter to the Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, requesting to “maximize the absorption” of an additional 8,000 Hajj quotas. This communication preceded a proposal, approved by the Minister, to divide these quotas between regular and special Hajj pilgrims, contradicting an initial agreement with the House of Representatives.
KPK suspects Fuad Hasan was the mastermind behind allocating the special Hajj quotas, allegedly leveraging other travel agencies as extensions of his own for financial gain. The scheme involved ministry officials loosening policies for immediate departures (T0 pilgrims) and collecting “acceleration fees” of USD 5,000 per pilgrim. Former Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his special staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, have since been named suspects in this ongoing case.