KPK Apparently 'Sentil' Pemkab Pekalongan Through Coordination Meeting Before Arresting Regent Fadia Arafiq

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has reminded the Pekalongan Regency Government, Central Java to close the corruption gap before carrying out a hand-in-hand operation (OTT) and trapping Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq.

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said the warning was given in a coordination meeting between the Coordination and Supervision Unit (Korsup) and the Pekalongan Regency Government in 2025. This activity is routinely carried out as an accompaniment for local governments to map corruption gaps in their regions.

"KPK has also provided several notes and recommendations to Pekalongan Regency, which rooms are still prone to corruption," Budi told reporters quoted on Saturday, March 7.

This is the condition that makes the KPK disagree if Fadia admits that he does not understand bureaucracy because he has a background as a dangdut singer. Moreover, he has served for two periods and has been Deputy Regent.

Fadia's statement was revealed when the KPK held a press conference to determine the suspects after holding OTT.

"As a regional head, you have to understand, yes, how to manage the regional government, you have to be able to create good governance, you also have to be able to provide the best service to your community, yes. So this is an obligation for a regional head to have competence, to have a clear vision and mission to build his region," he said.

"Don't then trade influence, yes, then there is a conflict of interest and even attempts to intervene through related parties, both families and trusted people, which requires these work units or regional units to win their companies," continued Budi.

Meanwhile, from the KPK's official website, the coordination meeting was held at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta on August 27, 2025. Fadia Arafiq was present and had expressed his commitment to improving Pekalongan based on the recommendations made by the KPK.

There are several recommendations, including those related to the procurement of goods and services. The KPK at that time reminded Fadia and his staff to be careful with the use of e-purchasing because the LPSE data showed that the Pekalongan Regency Government was quite active with the system but its use consumed a budget of Rp. 39 billion.

"Thank you for the input from the KPK. This is an important note for us to follow up on. Insyaallah, we will all carry out according to the rules and improve if there are shortcomings," said Fadia in the meeting.

As previously reported, the KPK named the Regent of Pekalongan Fadia Arafiq as a suspect for allegedly arranging PT Raja Nusantara Berjaya (PT RNB) to monopoli outsourcing service projects in 17 regional devices, 3 RSUD, and 1 sub-district in Pekalongan Regency. He was caught in a hand-in-hand operation (OTT) on Tuesday, March 3.

PT RNB itself is known to have been founded by Fadia's husband and son, whose leadership was then handed over to his trusted employees.

In this case, the KPK suspects that the local government was forced to win PT RNB or the so-called "Parent Company". In fact, at the same time there were other vendors offering lower prices.

Throughout 2023 to 2026, there were transactions into PT RNB worth Rp. 46 billion sourced from contracts with regional devices in the Pekalongan Regency Government. Of that amount, Rp. 22 billion was used to pay the salaries of outsourcing employees.

Meanwhile, the rest or about 40 percent flowed into the pockets of Fadia, her husband and her children. Here are the details:

1. Fadia Arafiq as the Regent of Pekalongan enjoyed Rp5.5 billion; 2. Mukhtaruddin Ashraff Abu who is Fadia's husband enjoyed Rp1.1 billion.

Ashraff currently serves as a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the 2024-2029 period from the Golkar Party Faction which serves on Commission X. At PT RNB, he holds the position of commissioner.

3. Muhammad Sabiq Ashraff as the regent's son enjoyed Rp. 4.6 billion;

Sabiq is a member of the Pekalongan Regency DPRD from the Golkar Party Faction (Dapil V). He also served as the Director of PT RNB for the period 2022-2024.

4. Mehnaz NA as the regent's son enjoys Rp2.5 billion; 5. Rul Bayatun as the Director of PT RNB 2024 - now / Regent's Trust Person: Enjoying Rp2.3 billion; and 6. Other cash withdrawals of Rp3 billion.

For his actions, Fadia Arafiq was detained for the next 20 days at the KPK Red and White Building Branch Detention Center. The extension of detention will be carried out according to the needs of investigators.

In this case, he is suspected of violating Article 12 letter i and Article 12 B of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 127 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code regarding conflicts of interest and abuse of authority in the procurement of goods and services.