Gibran's Name Was Mentioned In The Bansos Bribe, What Should The KPK Be?

JAKARTA - The name of the son of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Gibran Rakabuming Raka, appeared in the case of the alleged bribery of the COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) for the Greater Jakarta area which dragged the name of former Social Minister Juliari Peter Batubara.

The appearance of Gibran's name in the vortex of this corruption case was mentioned in a report from Tempo Magazine. This new cadre in the party bearing the bull symbol is said to have recommended PT Sri Rezeki Isman (Sritex) in the procurement of goodie bags for social assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs for residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a Tempo report entitled 'Bansos Tribute for the Banteng Team', it was stated that the name of PT Sritex in the procurement was allegedly due to interference from Gibran, who had just won the 2020 Solo Pilkada.

Gibran denied this report. He said he never recommended the name PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk or Sritex to make social assistance bags or goodie bags used by the Ministry of Social Affairs.

"That is not true. I have never recommended, ordered or interfered in this social assistance affair. Especially recommending a goodie bag, never like that. That's not true news," said Gibran in Solo to the media crew, Monday, December 21.

Gibran suggested that this could be asked directly to the KPK so that the information would become clear. "Just cross-check it with the KPK, cross-check it with Sritex. It seems that Sritex has issued a statement. So those are news that are not true and cannot be proven," he said.

Himself felt strange with the information circulating. Moreover, said Gibran, the value of the project associated with him was very small and as the president's son, if he wanted to practice rasuah then he would choose a big project.

"If you want corruption, why is the corruption only now, it's not corruption before. No, I've never been like that. If you want a project that's a bigger project, PLN, Pertamina, toll roads are worth trillions. I've never been like that. interfere like that, "he said.

The same rebuttal has also been conveyed by PT Sritex through the Head of Corporate Communication Sritex, Joy Citradewi. He said, Sritex did get a goodie bag procurement project from the Ministry of Social Affairs but he denied that his party got this project because of Gibran's recommendation.

"It's true we supply goodie bags to the Ministry of Social Affairs. For recommendations, none from Gibran," said Joy.

Joy explained that participation in the program started from a meeting between the Ministry of Social Affairs and the company. Unfortunately, Joy was unable to explain the number of orders and the value of the contracts that her party received with the government.

"Quality and contract value have a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA). We are approached by the Ministry of Social Affairs for this fulfillment because there is an urgent need," he said.

Regarding the appearance of the name of President Jokowi's son, Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Nurul Ghufron said that his party was ready to trace various information that emerged in the bribery case and ensnared Juliari Batubara. The Corruption Eradication Commission, he said, was also open to various information that had entered and would be thoroughly investigated.

"The point is that the KPK is open to receiving any information that develops in the suspected COVID-19 social assistance corruption case. Next (we, red) will explore whether it is appropriate to suspect that each name in circulation should be investigated, developed as an alleged corruption crime or not," said Ghufron.

The anti-graft commission, he continued, will also not look at name or position. "But the KPK looks at the evidence and the role of its involvement," he said.

Even though the KPK said it would not look at the name or position, the Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman still reminded the anti-graft commission to continue to investigate it thoroughly and dare to examine anyone who was indicated as being involved in this case.

"The KPK must have the courage to summon anyone who has been mentioned in the Tempo report. Whoever, if there is an indication of a connection with social assistance corruption, everyone has the same position," said Boyamin.

Indeed, there are doubts if the anti-graft commission is brave enough to reveal the bribery case for social assistance because it is likely to drag other big names. However, he believes, the KPK still has the courage to enforce the law and eradicate corruption fairly. "But, if later the KPK does not dare, MAKI will sue pretrial," he concluded.