KPK Waits For Mahfud MD's Official Report On The Allegation Of Mark Up For The Fast Train Project

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has invited former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD to report allegations of budget inflation or mark-ups for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said that every report that comes in will definitely be followed up. The process begins with conducting an analysis to determine whether or not there is a criminal act.

"For people who know initial information or initial data, please submit a complaint to the KPK," Budi told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, October 16.

Even so, Budi said reports could not be arbitrary. "It also needs to be equipped with initial information and data so that later in the review process and verification it becomes more precise," he said.

Mahfud MD through his YouTube channel stated that there was a significant difference in the cost of building a high-speed train per kilometer. The calculation issued by provider companies in China is different from the Indonesian version.

"The alleged mark-up is like this. According to the Indonesian side, the cost per 1 km of theASH train is 52 million US dollars. But in China itself the calculation is 17 to 18 US dollars. It has tripled, right," Mahfud said in the video.

This allegation was conveyed by Mahfud related to the debt burden of theASH project which reached Rp4 trillion in 2025.

He said the debt burden occurred due to a change in the financing scheme from Japan's offer with a interest rate of 0.1 percent to China with an initial interest rate of 2 percent which then rose to 3.4 percent due to overrun.

Even so, the cost of buildingASH per kilometer of Rp780 billion is considered cheaper than the Jakarta MRT project which reaches Rp1.1 trillion per kilometer. However, Mahfud still supports the investigation into the alleged mark-up.

In addition, Mahfud also supports the attitude of the Minister of Finance, Purbaya, who does not want to bear the trustsh debt with the state budget. He asked the government to take a progressive policy so that the debt burden does not increase.