Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin (JP)

Friday’s arrest of United Development Party (PPP) chairman M. Romahurmuziy, who has since resigned from that post, once again casts an unfavorable light on the Religious Affairs Ministry, which has seen two ministers sent to prison for graft in the past.

In 2005, then-religious affairs minister Said Agil al-Munawar was sentenced to five years in prison for the embezzlement of haj funds causing state losses of Rp 719 billion (US$54.4 million). In 2016, the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Romahurmuziy’s predecessor at the PPP, Sur-yadharma Ali, to six years in prison, again for embezzling haj funds and misusing the ministry’s operational funds.

Following the arrest of Romahurmuziy, investigators of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) are now zeroing in on the possible role of current Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin, also a senior PPP politician, in an influence-peddling scheme that has implicated the party’s leader.

Romahurmuziy is alleged to have used his influence as PPP chairman to help officials at the East Java office of the Religious Affairs Ministry get plum positions in exchange for cash.

The PPP chairman is alleged to have accepted Rp 300 million in payments from two individuals, Muafaq Wirahadi and Haris Hasanuddin, who wished to get promoted within the ranks of the ministry’s regional office in East Java.

KPK investigators called the case involving Romahurmuziy a classic example of influence-peddling committed by leaders of political parties controlling relevant ministries.

In 2013, KPK investigators arrested then-Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq for his role in helping private companies get beef import contracts from the Agriculture Ministry. At the time of the arrest, a PKS politician served as agriculture minister.

When arrested on Friday, Romahurmuziy served as a member of House of Representatives Commission XI on finance and banking. The Religious Affairs Ministry is under the supervision of House Commission VIII.

Following the arrest, KPK investigators on Monday raided the PPP headquarters and the office of Minister Lukman at the Religious Affairs Ministry, both in Central Jakarta.

Lukman’s office was one of many spots raided by KPK investigators. During the operation, investigators confiscated cash, including some from Lukman’s office.

“Investigators have seized some cash, both rupiah and US dollars. We have yet to count it, but we estimate it could amount to 100 million rupiah,” KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah told reporters on Monday.

Febri, however, was quick to add that investigators would not rush to conclusions on whether Lukman may have played a role in the case implicating Romahurmuziy.

“We shouldn’t make conclusions solely based on the raid and confiscation. Investigators will seize money, documents or electronic evidence if they see them as important pieces of evidence in this case,” he said.

In their raid on the PPP headquarters, investigators targeted the offices of Romahurmuziy and of the party’s treasurer. Aside from seizing cash, the KPK investigators also took documents related to the alleged influence-peddling scheme.

Following the arrest of Romahurmuziy, who immediately resigned from his position, the PPP’s central board on Saturday announced it had appointed senior party politician Suharso Monoarfa, who was a minister in the administration of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as interim party leader.

Parties in the coalition backing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo have welcomed the appointment of Suharso. The PPP, the nation’s oldest Islamic party, is part of a coalition throwing its support behind Jokowi and his running mate, Muslim cleric Ma’ruf Amin, who are facing Prabowo Subianto and running mate Sandiaga Uno in the election.

Suharso will either lead the party until 2021, when Romahurmuziy’s term expires, or only until the party decides to hold a congress to appoint a new chairman.

“[The national congress] can only take place only if there are aspirations from party members, constituencies and party executive at the central and regional levels,” PPP secretary-general Arsul Sani said earlier.

Lukman has issued a public apology and expressed regret that the case emerged under his watch. He also pledged that he would immediately dismiss the two officials alleged to have paid bribes to Romahurmuziy.

“Moreover, we won’t provide any legal assistance for them,” he said.

Lukman also stressed that the ministry would be “cooperative” with the KPK in the investigation.

“I have demanded that all employees cooperate with the KPK. They must be ready to provide any data and information,” he said. (das)

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