ICW reveals possible haj graft worth Rp 562b

Jakarta, NU Online
Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) announced a possible haj graft case worth Rp 562 billion (US$55.02 million) and urged the Corruption Eradication Commission to investigate the Religious Affairs Ministry and previous unfinished haj graft scandals.

ICW's Analysis and Data Center chief, Firdaus Ilyas, said additional costs were added to food, accommodation and other indirect expenses. "ICW has investigated the haj budget, which was just approved by Commission VIII at the House of Representatives," he said.<>

"We have found some discrepancies between the allocated and actual expenses."

Firdaus said the ministry had allocated Rp 7 million per pilgrim for accommodation in Mecca, while ICW found the actual cost was only Rp 6.95 million per pilgrim.

"A deviation of only Rp 70,000 per person may look small, but with 200,000 expected pilgrims, it could total Rp 14 billion," he said.

"For accommodation in Medina, we found a deviation of Rp 272,400 per pilgrim or a total Rp 54.48 billion."

ICW also suspected the ministry had inflated the cost of food by Rp 76,300 per pilgrim or a total Rp 15.26 billion.

The ministry is also suspected of marking up indirect costs.

"The indirect cost for the 2009 haj should not exceed Rp 300 billion. In comparison, last year's indirect costs were around Rp 240 billion and Rp 235 billion the year before."

The ministry has allocated Rp 778.27 billion for indirect costs for haj pilgrims this year.

Ade Irawan, head of ICW's public service monitoring division, accused ministry officials of exaggerating the funds required for the pilgrimage.

"The ministry's representatives often hold closed-door meetings with Commission VIII legislators when discussing the pilgrimage budget," he said.

"This is absolutely not in accordance with the principles of transparency and accountability."

He said that ICW had urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono not to sign a decree on the 2009 haj funds until the ministry had revised the budget.

Abdul Ghafur Djawahir, director of haj finance management at the ministry, denied that ministry officials had falsely inflated the 2009 budget for haj.

"We analysed all elements before determining the funds for each aspect," he told The Jakarta Post.

Abdul said the ministry had spent most of the funds, mainly on booking accommodation in Mecca and Medina, despite the fact that President Yudhoyono had yet to issue a decree on 2009 haj budget. (dar)