Minister in trouble for haj worries

JAKARTA. From advocating the persecution of minority Muslim groups to ignoring a Supreme Court ruling in favor of a church to be able to worship in Bekasi, West Java, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali seems to be involved in endless controversies.

This time, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has Suryadharma’s back to the wall concerning the alleged misuse of the massive haj fund, accumulated from 1.4 million prospective pilgrims, by his ministry.

KPK deputy chairman Busyro Muqoddas said there were irregularities in the use of interest proceeds worth Rp 1.7 trillion (US$188 million) from the management of the haj fund, which was worth Rp 32 trillion.

“We strongly suggest the government impose a moratorium on haj pilgrim registrations because there are already too many pilgrim candidates on the waiting list.”

“The longer the waiting list, the bigger the chance to misuse the money collected from pilgrims, as it might surpass their actual pilgrim expenses,” said Busyro in a hearing with the House of Representatives’ Commission VIII on religion, social affairs and the empowerment of women on Tuesday.

He said the KPK had found that pilgrims had suffered losses from their haj deposits as the Haj Management Agency eventually refused to refund them for overpaying or to pay the interest generated from pilgrims’ initial deposits.

These funds are believed to be unaccounted for, with no officials ever attempting to clarify where the funds are going.

Commission VIII member Muhammad Oheo Sinapoy of the Golkar Party said the ministry always refused to clarify the matter, raising suspicions of embezzlement.

“We have been asking the minister to give details of the services for the pilgrims, but he has yet to do so,” said Oheo.

Religious Affairs Ministry spokesman Zubaedi denied allegations of misuse of the interest proceeds generated from the pilgrims’ deposits.

“The money is carefully used for the likes of cross subsidies, as most pilgrims usually pay 80 percent of the normal cost of Rp 37 million,” he said.

The Religious Affairs Ministry, which is supposed to set as example of honest living as cited by religious texts, was ranked by the KPK as the most corrupt institution, based on a survey late last year.

The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) announced on Monday that financial irregularities implicated two ministries — apart from lawmakers, attorneys, judges and civil servants — but did not reveal which ministries.

Suryadharma, who is also chairman of the Islamic-based United Development Party (PPP), has repeatedly clarified the KPK survey by insisting his ministry has upheld an excellent standard of accountability and transparency.

The corruption allegations made by the KPK came amid Suryadharma’s call members to improve the party’s image to win the hearts and minds of the people.

The party is organizing a national meeting at the Lirboyo boarding school in Kediri, East Java, until Feb. 23. The meeting was officiated by Vice President Boediono.

“Party members are being asked to build a positive image to help the party recruit new members ahead of the 2014 election. We are targeting the recruitment of 12 million new members,” said Suryadharma on Monday, as quoted by Antara.

PPP members have proposed Suryadharma as the party’s presidential candidate for the upcoming 2014 election, despite calls from elements of the Muslim community for the resignation of Suryadharma from the Cabinet due to his failure to uphold religious tolerance.

Suryadharma recently called the Shia branch of Islam “heretical” because it deviated from mainstream Islamic teachings. The Shia branch of Islam dominates Iran, while Indonesia has a Sunni majority. (Margareth S. Aritonang/ The Jakarta Post)