Deputy Minister Inspects Jakarta Religious Affairs Office Amidst Hajj Fraud Allegations

Indonesia's Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, personally visited the Ministry of Religious Affairs office in East Jakarta on Monday. His visit was prompted by the discovery that this specific office had the highest number of alleged hajj pilgrimage fraud cases. Simanjuntak stated his presence was due to the significant number of issues originating from this location.

Findings from the Supreme Audit Agency and the Corruption Eradication Commission revealed that the East Jakarta office was implicated in the most hajj mafia cases. These practices included issues with portion transfers and mahram (unrelated male escort for female pilgrims) arrangements. During his visit, Simanjuntak also noted that the head of the office had not yet arrived by 9:30 AM, further highlighting his concerns about the office's operations.

Simanjuntak emphasized his commitment to monitoring the performance of the East Jakarta office, given its large number of pilgrims. He framed his visit as a warning to employees, urging them to abandon outdated work cultures. He conveyed a strong message, stating that President Prabowo, the Minister, and himself had consistently warned about the need for change, and those unwilling to adapt should leave the ministry.