REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The fate of Minister of Religious Affairs, Suryadharma Ali (SDA), will be decided by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono today, May 26, 2014. Earlier this week, SDA was named as a suspect on corruption case related to hajj funds. 

"I think I will take a decision on Monday (today). It will be a correct step," the President said on Saturday morning in Manila, the Philippines. 

Yudhoyono reiterated that he needed to take appropriate step so SDA could concentrate on his legal case and also to prevent any disruption of duties at the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The President also underlined his firm position to uphold law enforcement.

"I still keep my firm stance. We must uphold law whenever any state or government official or political party member involved in corruption case," the President said. 

Misunderstanding

On May 22, SDA was named by Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as a suspect in an alleged corruption case related to hajj funds collected by the government from hajj pilgrims in Indonesia. Earlier on May 5, KPK questioned SDA on the case. In his comment, SDA expressed hope that his status as "a suspect" was only misunderstanding. 

"I always pray that the decision to name me as a suspect will just be misunderstanding," he stated.

However, the KPK strongly confirmed that there was clearly no misunderstanding in naming SDA involved in corruption case Deputy Chairman of KPK Busyro Muqoddas noted that the anti-graft body had gathered sufficient evidence to charge the minister.

"There is no misunderstanding. We have a clear understanding about the evidence," Busyro affirmed later in the day.

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