The Audit of PT PPI is Strengthening, the Potential for State Losses is in the Spotlight

JAKARTA - The demand for an investigative audit of PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PPI) is getting stronger.

Chairman of the Justice Youth Association (PPK) Dendi Budimana asked the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Attorney General's Office, the Financial Supervisory Board (BPK), the Financial and Development Supervisory Board (BPKP), and the SOE Ministry to conduct a thorough examination of the implementation of various government assignments carried out by the state-owned enterprises.

According to Dendi, audits are needed to ensure that all state assignments have been carried out in accordance with regulations and provide optimal economic benefits for the country.

He assessed that a number of issues that have developed in the public sphere need to be answered through independent and data-based examinations.

"We ask that all government assignments carried out by PT PPI be comprehensively examined. The public needs certainty whether all processes have been carried out in accordance with the rules and provide optimal benefits for the country," he said.

Dendi said that the scope of the audit should include the mechanism for determining vendors, distribution of strategic commodities, granting business quotas, procurement processes, to the effectiveness of the company's internal control system.

In addition, law enforcement officers are also encouraged to investigate various alleged irregularities that are said to have occurred in the implementation of government assignments since 2022, including alleged quota games and practices that have the potential to reduce state-owned enterprises' profits.

According to him, if it is found that the governance is not optimal, the country has the potential to lose the revenue that should have been obtained from various strategic assignments.

"The state auditor needs to calculate objectively whether there is a potential loss of state profits. If violations are found, all parties responsible must be processed in accordance with applicable laws," he said.

PT PPI is one of the SOEs that has a strategic role in national trade, including the implementation of various government assignment programs related to the distribution of essential commodities.

Therefore, transparency and accountability are considered to be important factors in maintaining the effectiveness of the company's role.

Dendi added that a thorough audit was also in line with the government's efforts to strengthen SOEs governance and increase the efficiency of state asset management.

"If there are no problems, the audit will prove it. However, if violations are found, law enforcement must be carried out firmly in order to maintain public trust and protect state finances," he said.