Indonesia: Religious Ministry most corrupt, failing to implement reforms: Commission

Indonesia Corruption Watch believes that given the lack of accountability, the ministry — perceived to be one of the nation’s most corrupt institutions according to Transparency International Indonesia — could be sitting on as much as Rp 27 trillion ($3.16 billion).

Corruption and extremism dominates Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs
Photo: Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: The Jakareta Globe
By Camelia Pasandaran | May 06, 2011

The Corruption Eradication Commission on Friday said Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs had yet to implement 38 recommendations involving its controversial Hajj-management system.

The 38 system failures allegedly allow for the possibility of wide-spread corruption during Indonesia’s annual Hajj pilgrimage, when 200,000 Indonesians pay Rp 25 million ($2,925) — up from Rp 20 million the previous year — each to make the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Bibit Samad Rianto, deputy chairman of the commission, known as the KPK, said the ministry had failed to implement the recommendations made last year.


Indonesia Corruption Watch believes that given the lack of accountability, the ministry — perceived to be one of the nation’s most corrupt institutions according to Transparency International Indonesia — could be sitting on as much as Rp 27 trillion ($3.16 billion).

ICW says it estimates that the cost of each hajj journey should cost just $500.

Read original post here: Religious Ministry Failing to Implement Hajj Reforms: KPK