Indonesia Investigasi
Jakarta – The polemic of alleged money politics in the election of the leadership of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) RI and Deputy Chairperson of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) RI from the DPD element continues to roll. The General Chairperson of the Indonesian Citizen Journalists Association (PPWI) National, Wilson Lalengke, S.Pd, M.Sc, MA, who is also an alumnus of the Regular Education Program Batch (PPRA) 48 of the Indonesian National Resilience Institute in 2012, also gave a strong response regarding this issue.
Wilson emphasized that he believed the information conveyed by Ifan was correct and supported by facts. “95 people were bribed, I am sure Irfan’s information is correct and factual. Maybe the member accompanied by Yefta was not included in the 95 people, so he did not know the game in that institution,” said Wilson in his statement to the media, Sunday (16/2/2025).
He highlighted that the practice of money politics is not new in Indonesian politics. According to him, the transactional system is deeply rooted, starting from the election of legislative members to executive positions. “Let alone becoming a chairman, when they want to become a member of the council they are already playing with money, let alone to become a leader of an institution. It’s all like that, in the DPR RI it’s the same, including in the regions. Money is a bargaining tool to become a leader,” he said.
Furthermore, Wilson even mentioned that similar practices occur in various sectors, including the election of the chairman of an organization. “Hendry Bangun’s PWI also plays with money to become chairman, hahaha …” he added sarcastically.
Not only highlighting the DPD RI, Wilson also revealed the suspicion of large deposits for those who want to occupy strategic positions in government, including ministerial seats.
“In Jokowi’s era, to become a minister you had to deposit between 400 billion and 3 trillion rupiah. I haven’t received information for ministers during Prabowo’s era, how much the deposit was to become a minister, but I’m sure there must have been a deposit. Well, to become the Head of the Provincial Hospital, the deposit was in the billions, how is it possible that there is no deposit at the ministry level? If the minister doesn’t have money, he can partner with investors to be his boss,” he said.
Wilson also mentioned the independence of the KPK in handling corruption cases involving high-ranking officials. According to him, a political system full of money makes it difficult for the anti-corruption agency to move. “Therefore, it is difficult for the KPK to move to process these officials, all money. To become a KPK leader, you also have to use money. Is it possible to use a dirty broom to sweep dirty streets?” he said closing his statement.
Wilson Lalengke’s statement further exacerbated the issue that had heated up after Ifan revealed allegations of bribery in the election of the DPD RI leadership. Previously, an activist from the Red and White Indonesian Youth Alliance (AMPUH), Yefta Bakarbessy, denied Ifan’s accusations and emphasized that during his time accompanying one of the senators from West Papua, there was no indication of bribery.
Until this news was published, it was hoped that the relevant parties could respond in the form of an official statement from the KPK, the Palace, or the Honorary Council (BK) of the DPD RI leadership regarding these increasingly widespread allegations.
(Team/Red)
