KPK Investigators Probe Initiator of Hajj Quota Division

Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is actively investigating the origins of a controversial 50:50 division for additional Hajj pilgrimage quotas. The investigation centers on former Director General of Hajj and Umrah Services at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hilman Latief, who was questioned on June 24, 2026.

Investigators are seeking to identify the individuals or entities responsible for initiating this altered distribution. Normally, additional Hajj quotas are allocated with 92% for regular Hajj and 8% for special Hajj. However, in this instance, the 20,000 additional quotas were reportedly divided equally between the two categories.

"Are there parties from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, or also parties from associations or other PIHKs who initiated it, so that the additional Hajj quota of 20,000 was divided 50 percent:50 percent?" stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo. The KPK suspects that Hilman Latief received bribes amounting to US$5,000 and 16,000 Saudi riyals in connection with this additional quota distribution.

KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution, Asep Guntur Rahayu, confirmed that the flow of funds has been verified. "After we confirmed with Mr. HL and the suspects we have named, they stated that there was indeed a flow of funds," Asep said on March 30, 2026. This evidence of fund transfers is believed to strengthen the case against previously named suspects, including former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his special staffer Ishfah Abidal Aziz. The KPK has also named Asrul Azis Taba, commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and head of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Tour Travel Units of the Republic of Indonesia, as a new suspect, bringing the total to four.