active - Sugramedia
Home Tags Posts tagged with "active"
Tag:

active

Lifestyle and Fashion

KPK Completes Examination of Noor Faizah Maenofie Regarding Alleged Extortion Case Involving Non-Active Pemalang Regent Anom Widiyantoro

by Laily UPN
written by Laily UPN

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) concluded its interrogation of Noor Faizah Maenofie, the wife of the non-active Pemalang Regent Anom Widiyantoro, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The examination, which lasted several hours at the KPK’s Red and White House in Jakarta, serves as a pivotal step in the ongoing investigation into a sprawling corruption case involving bribery, extortion, and the illicit management of government positions within the Pemalang Regency administration. Investigators are seeking to determine the extent of her involvement and her potential knowledge regarding the systemic exploitation of civil service appointments that allegedly characterized her husband’s tenure.

The Scope of the Investigation

The KPK’s interest in Noor Faizah Maenofie stems from evidence suggesting that the systemic corruption within the Pemalang Regency government reached deep into the Regent’s immediate circle. KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo confirmed that the investigative team specifically grilled the witness on the mechanisms governing the rotation, mutation, and promotion of civil servants within the Pemalang Regency administration.

According to investigators, these administrative processes were allegedly weaponized to extract funds from civil servants who sought career advancement or retention in key positions. The practice, often referred to as "jual beli jabatan" or the buying and selling of offices, has become a recurring theme in local government corruption cases in Indonesia. However, the case against Anom Widiyantoro is noted for its scale and the alleged involvement of both private sector actors and internal government officials.

Budi Prasetyo emphasized that the investigation is not limited to simple extortion. "The evidence we have gathered suggests that the activities were not confined to Article 12e of the Corruption Eradication Law regarding extortion. We are looking at a broader spectrum of illicit receipts," Budi explained. The commission is working to map out how the funds were collected, distributed, and eventually laundered, with the wife’s testimony serving as a critical piece of the puzzle to verify financial trails.

Chronology of the Pemalang Corruption Scandal

The legal troubles for the Pemalang administration began following a series of high-profile sting operations conducted by the KPK. The timeline of the case has revealed a deeply entrenched culture of rent-seeking that preceded the official arrests.

  • Initial Discovery (Mid-2022): The KPK began receiving credible reports from whistleblowers regarding the standardization of "tariffs" for specific positions within the Pemalang Regional Secretariat.
  • The Sting Operation (July 2022): The KPK conducted a series of hand-catch operations (OTT) in Jakarta and Pemalang, leading to the arrest of Anom Widiyantoro and several key department heads.
  • The Indictment Phase (2023-2024): Formal charges were filed, detailing that the Regent had established a fixed price list for various bureaucratic positions, ranging from low-level administrative roles to high-ranking structural positions.
  • Broadening the Investigation (2025): As the case moved through the court system, new evidence emerged linking the financial gains from these activities to the personal assets of the Regent’s inner circle, including family members.
  • Examination of Noor Faizah Maenofie (September 2026): The KPK summoned the spouse of the former regent to clarify the origin of assets that appeared to be disproportionate to the legitimate income of a civil servant.

Understanding the "Tariff" System in Regional Governance

The allegations against the Pemalang Regency administration are illustrative of a broader challenge facing Indonesia’s decentralization model. In many regions, the transition to direct regional elections has increased the financial burden on candidates, leading some to recoup their campaign costs through the illicit sale of government positions once they are in power.

In the case of Pemalang, the "tariff" system was allegedly rigid. Data from the KPK investigations suggest that positions were categorized by their potential for future rent-seeking—essentially, the more "lucrative" the department, the higher the bribe required to secure the promotion. By controlling these rotations, the Regent could ensure that only loyalists, or those who had paid their dues, occupied sensitive procurement and budget-management roles. This created a cycle of corruption where the cost of the bribe was eventually passed on to the public through inflated public project costs or substandard service delivery.

Official Responses and Legal Implications

The legal team representing Anom Widiyantoro has consistently maintained that the Regent was unaware of the "transactional" nature of these appointments, often framing them as routine administrative decisions based on merit and performance. However, the KPK’s focus on the Regent’s family indicates that the commission has moved beyond the "willful ignorance" defense.

Legal experts observing the case suggest that if the KPK can prove that the proceeds of these extortion efforts were channeled into family-owned enterprises or personal assets held in the spouse’s name, the charges could be upgraded to include money laundering. This would significantly increase the potential sentencing for the former regent and could lead to the confiscation of significant family assets under the state’s recovery of losses.

"The examination of a family member is usually a sign that the investigators have exhausted their leads on the civil service side and are now moving to the financial layer," says Dr. Aris Wahyudi, a policy analyst focusing on local governance. "If the testimony of Noor Faizah Maenofie contradicts the financial data held by the KPK, it could lead to further charges of obstruction of justice or perjury, which complicates the defense strategy significantly."

The Broader Impact on Pemalang’s Governance

The implications of this case extend far beyond the legal proceedings in Jakarta. The scandal has left the Pemalang government in a state of administrative paralysis. With numerous senior officials caught in the same web of corruption, the continuity of public service delivery has been severely hampered. Residents of Pemalang have expressed widespread frustration, noting that infrastructure projects have stalled and bureaucratic services have become sluggish as the remaining staff fear being associated with the previous administration’s malfeasance.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has had to intervene, appointing temporary administrators to stabilize the region. However, restoring public trust in local institutions is expected to take years. The case serves as a stark reminder of the corrosive nature of position-peddling, which not only undermines the integrity of the civil service but also prevents the recruitment of qualified, honest professionals who refuse to participate in pay-to-play schemes.

Future Outlook and Next Steps

As the investigation into the Anom Widiyantoro case continues, the KPK has indicated that more witnesses may be called, including private sector vendors who were allegedly coerced into paying bribes to maintain their status as government contractors. The commission is also collaborating with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) to conduct a deep audit of the suspect’s financial history.

For the citizens of Pemalang, the ongoing legal drama serves as a litmus test for the effectiveness of the KPK in the current political climate. There is a strong public expectation that the investigation will not only punish the primary actors but also recover the stolen state funds to be reallocated for regional development.

In the coming weeks, the KPK is expected to synthesize the testimony from the recent round of interviews into an updated case file. Whether this leads to additional suspects being named remains to be seen, but the intensity of the current probe suggests that the commission is committed to dismantling the entire structure of the alleged syndicate. The case of Anom Widiyantoro will likely serve as a definitive case study in future anti-corruption training, highlighting the complexities of unraveling a multi-layered, systemic conspiracy that operated under the guise of legitimate administrative governance.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
National News

Indonesia Faces Critical Monitoring Gaps Across 127 Active Volcanoes Amid Calls for Institutional Overhaul

by Suro Senen
written by Suro Senen

Yogyakarta — Indonesia stands as one of the most volcanically active nations on the planet, cradled within the volatile tectonic intersection known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. Geological data indicates the archipelago hosts a staggering total of 127 active volcanoes distributed across its vast maritime expanse. However, despite this immense geothermal hazard exposure, critical vulnerabilities persist in the country’s disaster mitigation infrastructure. Recent expert disclosures highlight a stark disparity in technological readiness, revealing that only a single volcanic observatory possesses a fully comprehensive, state-of-the-art monitoring facility.

The scope of Indonesia’s volcanic challenge requires continuous oversight by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), operating under the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). As experts debate the efficacy of current disaster response mechanisms, structural reforms and budgetary constraints have emerged as central themes in a nationwide discourse on public safety, institutional efficiency, and real-time early warning capabilities.

Categorization and Technological Disparities in Volcanic Surveillance

Volcanic activity across the archipelago is officially classified into three distinct categories by geological authorities. The primary focus of daily monitoring centers on Type A volcanoes—defined as active volcanic systems with documented records of magmatic eruptions dating back at least to the year 1600 AD. Out of the 127 active volcanoes nationwide, approximately 76 are classified as Type A, demanding rigorous, uninterrupted surveillance.

Speaking at a recent academic forum at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta, volcanologist Agung Harijoko emphasized the uneven distribution of monitoring technology. While numerous remote monitoring stations have been erected across distant islands and highlands, their technological sophistication varies drastically.

"In terms of quantity and observation posts, the facilities still differ widely because the most complete one is located at Mount Merapi," Agung stated during the panel discussion. "Mount Merapi has the most comprehensive monitoring, with the best technology available."

For other active volcanoes situated in remote areas, the PVMBG maintains regional geophysical stations. These posts feed seismic data back to headquarters in Bandung, West Java, which subsequently disseminates updates to the public via digital communication channels.

Nevertheless, Agung pointed out that basic early warning systems (EWS) rely fundamentally on real-time observation, primarily driven by seismometers. While many remote posts are considered operationally adequate, their reliance on basic seismic monitoring means they capture only the fundamental precursors of unrest. Furthermore, because these regional posts must first report their findings back to the central PVMBG office before public dissemination, communities living in isolated areas often face information delays unless they actively monitor official channels.

The Institutional Dilemma: Budget Constraints and Eselon Placement

The systemic challenges facing Indonesia’s volcanic monitoring network extend beyond hardware limitations into the realm of institutional governance and fiscal prioritization. Dwikorita Karnawati, former head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) and a professor of environmental geology and disaster mitigation, highlighted that organizational structure significantly impedes the allocation of adequate resources.

Dwikorita noted that the PVMBG currently occupies an echelon II structural position within the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. Because the ESDM portfolio predominantly oversees heavy economic sectors such as mining, energy resources, and mineral extraction, disaster mitigation frequently struggles for fiscal priority.

"So it loses out; disaster mitigation becomes the absolute last priority. The budget is lacking, even though volcanoes are becoming increasingly active and there are so many of them. They need technology that is truly commensurate with the challenges faced," Dwikorita explained.

Drawing from historical precedent, Dwikorita pointed to the transformation of the BMKG during the administration of former President Megawati Soekarnoputri. By elevating the agency’s status from an echelon II or echelon I office into an independent state agency, the government enabled a proportional expansion of authority and technological capability to meet contemporary meteorological challenges.

Proposals for Institutional Integration: Merging PVMBG with BMKG

In light of these persistent structural hurdles, Dwikorita has renewed her advocacy for a major institutional realignment. She proposes integrating the PVMBG directly into the BMKG, establishing it as a dedicated deputy agency possessing echelon I status, parallel to other major technical bodies.

This proposal diverges from alternative governmental directives—such as directives previously issued under President Prabowo Subianto—which have considered placing volcanic monitoring under broader geological frameworks. Dwikorita’s rationale stems from operational bottlenecks experienced during her tenure leading the BMKG. She recounted instances where her agency bore the statutory responsibility of issuing public early warnings for geological hazards, yet lacked direct control over the monitoring equipment and data-gathering infrastructure, which remained exclusively within the purview of the PVMBG.

"Because the lesson learned was that we could not issue early warnings directly, all facilities, monitoring equipment, and so forth were at the Center for Volcanology, while the early warning responsibility was with us," Dwikorita recalled. "Consequently, we could not perform the necessary analysis or calculations directly."

She first formally submitted this structural integration proposal in 2019 and reiterated the recommendation in 2023. According to Dwikorita, the separation of hazard monitoring from the issuing agency creates procedural friction that slows down critical response times during emergencies.

Learning from International Models: The Japan Meteorological Agency Paradigm

To substantiate her proposal, Dwikorita referenced international benchmarks, pointing specifically to the organizational framework of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). In Japan, a nation similarly battered by seismic and volcanic hazards, all atmospheric, meteorological, and geophysical disaster management functions are consolidated within a single overarching institution.

This unified approach allows the JMA to orchestrate rapid responses to multifaceted crises—such as simultaneous tsunamis and volcanic eruptions—because all telemetry, seismic sensors, and atmospheric monitoring networks report to a centralized command structure.

"So for tsunami and volcanic eruption responses in Japan, it happens extremely fast because all facilities are housed within one institution. That is why we proposed this integration," she emphasized.

Crucially, Dwikorita clarified that her proposal does not advocate for absorbing the entire Geological Agency into the BMKG. The Geological Agency retains a broad mandate encompassing groundwater management, marine geology, mineralogy, and energy resource exploration—sectors unrelated to rapid-onset disaster response. Absorbing the entire agency, she warned, could dilute the BMKG’s core mission.

Instead, she advocates for carving out the specific volcanic and geological hazard mitigation functions of the PVMBG and merging them with the BMKG. This targeted merger, she argues, would eliminate bureaucratic duplication, align overlapping duties, optimize state budgets, and streamline disaster response protocols for an archipelago perpetually vulnerable to the wrath of its fiery peaks.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail