KPK to monitor haj money at Religious Ministry

JAKARTA: The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will supervise management of the Ummah Trust Fund (DAU) at the Religious Affairs Ministry starting in 2010.

“The minister has asked us to evaluate the management system of the DAU in 2010,” KPK deputy chairman M. Jasin said Wednesday.

He said because the ministry has not set up a standard operation procedure for the DAU, the antigraft commission suggested the ministry establish this procedure, while involving public representatives and professionals in the structure of the organization and supervisory council of it.

The funds, reportedly worth Rp 1.7 trillion (US$180 million) in 2009, has been raised due to Muslims wanting to travel to Mecca for haj.  

“People who are members of the management council should be filled with those who are familiar with accounting principles,” he said.

Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali said after meeting with the KPK he would accept suggestions to improve his ministry.

Since 2005, when there was an embezzlement of more than Rp 700 billion of haj funds from then minister Said Agil Hussein Al Munawar and his subordinate Taufiq Kamil, the ministry froze the fund use.

Said Agil and Taufik were found guilty in the scandal, and sentenced to five and four years in jail
respectively.

— JP