Suddenly Offered Rp200 Million: The Story Of A Member Of The NTB DPRD Regarding 'Criminal Funds' Appears Through Empowered Villages

MATARAM - The Village Program Empowered by the Provincial Government (Pemprov) of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) emerged in the investigation of alleged corruption cases related to the receipt of stealth funds' in the allocation of basic thought funds (pokir) of the NTB DPRD for the 2025 fiscal year.

The connection with the flagship program of the new government under the leadership of the Governor of NTB Lalu Muhamad Iqbal was conveyed by a member of the NTB DPRD, Abdul Rahim, after undergoing examination as a witness at the NTB High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) Building, Tuesday, October 14.

"This is the directive of the Governor of NTB, not a pokir. The governor's initiative is really given to new DPRD friends," Rahim told reporters quoted from Antara.

He explained that the Powered Village program related to the NTB DPRD Pokir funds targeted physical projects such as the construction of environmental roads, agricultural business roads, and irrigation channels sourced from the 2025 Revised Regional Budget (APBD-P).

According to Rahim, the Governor of NTB adjusted the program submissions from dozens of new DPRD members.

"So we provide 10 programs with a value of Rp. 2 billion, each Rp. 200 million. According to the vision and mission of the village, it is empowered: environmental roads, farming, irrigation, and others," he said.

However, the allocation of Rp. 200 million for each member of the NTB DPRD was later referred to as stealth funds or no-man's money. Rahim said the distribution was even listed in the By Name By Address (BNBA) list.

"That's the origin of it. Stealth funds, if we look at this process, come from BNBA," he said.

Rahim admitted that he had been offered Rp200 million after submitting 10 programs worth Rp2 billion, even though the budget had not been disbursed from the 2025 APBD-P. He rejected the offer because he suspected that there was a criminal element.

"The logic, no wind, no rain, suddenly get money," said the PDIP politician.

Rahim assessed that the offer has the potential to become gratification and support the prosecutor's steps to trace the flow of funds.

"We support this ongoing process. Because it's already on the track. It's amazing that the prosecutor's office is working. I have explained what I know," he said.

Assistant for Special Crimes at the NTB Prosecutor's Office, Muh. Zulkifli Said, confirmed Abdul Rahim's examination as a witness at the investigation stage. Apart from Rahim, investigators also examined other DPRD members, namely Iwan Panjidinata, Ali Usman, and Suhaimi.

"Yes, it's in the examination room. Initials are SHM, AU, IP, AR," said Zulkifli.