Jakarta – Oesman Sapta Odang, Chairman of the Hanura Party, has defended providing a private jet to Transport Minister Nasaruddin Umar for a trip to Takalar, South Sulawesi, to attend the inauguration of the Balai Sarkiah building on February 15, 2026. OSO, as he is commonly known, questioned what wrongdoing could be attributed to offering the transportation. “What’s wrong with that? We invited him. We were inaugurating a mosque, a place for Islamic study. What’s the problem?” OSO stated when contacted Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
OSO maintained that Nasaruddin’s presence was not related to official duties, characterizing his role at the event as simply reciting a prayer. “It had nothing to do with his job. He just read a prayer, he’s a Muslim,” he added.
The politician refuted any suggestion that providing the jet constituted a form of gratification. “Gratification? What gratification? It’s just between Muslims, a Muslim helping another Muslim, is that not allowed?” OSO said.
Nasaruddin Umar reported the use of OSO’s private jet to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Monday, February 23, 2026. He explained that the decision to accept the flight was due to the lack of alternative transportation at the time. “Due to the fact that at 11 p.m. There were no other planes available to get there, and I had to return the next morning for preparations for the isbat hearing,” Nasaruddin stated at the KPK building in South Jakarta.
The Minister indicated he had previously reported instances of potential gratification to the KPK, including this instance.
The KPK has acknowledged receiving Nasaruddin’s report and is currently analyzing the information. KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the agency is considering summoning OSO to provide further information. “In the analysis, it is possible to request additional information or statements from certain parties,” Prasetyo said Monday, February 23, 2026. He confirmed that OSO, as the provider of the jet, could be among those called for questioning.
According to Prasetyo, the KPK will first verify the completeness of the report before proceeding with a full analysis to determine the status of the provided facilities. “From this report, the team will check the completeness of the report and conduct an analysis, and then a decision will be made regarding the status of the provision of facilities,” he explained.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs previously clarified that OSO had specifically invited Nasaruddin to inaugurate the Balai Sarkiah, and that OSO proactively offered the use of his private jet given the Minister’s busy schedule. “Mr. OSO specifically invited [the Minister] and hoped that the Balai Sarkiah would be inaugurated by the Minister. Mr. OSO took the initiative to provide a private jet for the Minister to be able to attend amidst the Minister’s packed agenda,” said Thobib Al Asyhar, Head of the Public Relations and Communication Bureau of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, on February 16, 2026.
The Balai Sarkiah building in Takalar is intended to serve as a center for religious and social activities in South Sulawesi, focusing on community empowerment.
