Suryadharma Ali: I will not resign

Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister, Suryadharma Ali will not back off from his government post despite being named as a graft suspect on Thursday.

The allegation by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was with regard to irregularities in the 2012-2013 Haj Pilgrimage Programme fund.

"I haven't decided yet. I still want to oversee this year's Haj pilgrimage programme," he told a news conference at his office in Jakarta.

He was accompanied by his deputy Nasaruddin Umar and Religious Affairs Ministry director-general M. Jasin.

When asked about the allegation by KPK, Suryadharma refused to comment as the "allegation is still unclear".

Meanwhile, he hoped that this case was "just a misunderstanding" by KPK. As reported in the local news portal Kompas, Suryadharma personally believed that there are no irregularities in the Haj pilgrimage programme fund throughout his tenure as Religious Affairs Minister.

It was reported that the irregularities in the Haj programme were apparently pertaining to catering, accommodation and logistics management.

If convicted, he would be sentenced to life imprisonment.

Previously, former Religious Affairs Minister, Said Agil Husein Al-Munawar was sentenced five years' jail after being found guilty for irregularities in the 2002-2004 Haj pilgrimage programme.