DPR Angry at Animal Feed Money in KBS Corruption: The Perpetrators Must Be Punished Firmly!
Member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Daniel Johan, is angry with the practice of the corruption case of the Surabaya Zoo (KBS) animal feed money which is suspected to have been carried out for more than a decade. He asked the perpetrators to be punished firmly.
"Who is not angry to know that several incidents have animals in KBS who died because the money for feed and maintenance was corrupt. The perpetrators' actions are very cruel and sadistic," said Daniel Johan, Monday, 27 July.
Daniel also asked law enforcement officials to thoroughly investigate this case, including tracing the involvement of other parties as suspected by law enforcement officials.
"This matter must be thoroughly investigated because it concerns not only the financial losses of the state, but also touches on the mandate of the state in protecting animals and maintaining Indonesia's biodiversity," he said.
"The perpetrators must receive a firm punishment, and law enforcement must be able to find all parties responsible in the case," continued Daniel.
Daniel emphasized that animals or animals do not have the ability to voice their rights, so the state bears full responsibility for ensuring that every rupiah of the conservation budget is actually used in accordance with its provisions.
He also assessed that this case should be a momentum for the Government to conduct a national audit of the governance of conservation institutions, including zoos, animal parks, safari parks, and other conservation institutions that manage animals under state supervision.
"Corruption of conservation funds is not only detrimental to the state but also threatens the sustainability of animals entrusted to the state," said the PKB legislator from West Kalimantan I.
Daniel added that audits should not only focus on administrative and financial compliance, but also measure the direct relationship between budget use and animal welfare conditions, feed quality, animal health services, conservation success, and habitat management standards.
"The government must also build a performance-based transparency system for conservation budgets, so that spending related to animal feed, veterinary services, cage maintenance, to conservation programs can be monitored more accountable," said Daniel.
Commission IV of the DPR also asked the technical ministries together with conservation authorities to conduct a thorough assessment of the health conditions of the animals, the adequacy of feed, veterinary medical services, and the operational readiness of institutions so that legal processes do not interfere with the fulfillment of the basic needs of animals under state management.
"Conservation success is not only determined by the number of protected areas or species saved, but also by the integrity of the governance of the institutions mandated to care for animals," explained Daniel.
"Reform of the governance of conservation institutions must be a priority so that public confidence can be restored and the welfare of animals is truly guaranteed," he concluded.
As is known, the KBS feed corruption case has caused a stir in the community. This case was revealed after the East Java Prosecutor's Office named the former President Director (Dirut) of the Surabaya Zoo (KBS) Choirul Anwar as a suspect in animal feed corruption for the 2016-2024 period with a value of up to IDR 10.2 billion.
Based on the statement, more than 50 percent of the embezzled budget was used by the suspects for personal interests, where Rp. 7.4 billion was used for spending. The perpetrators are suspected of having carried out their actions since 2013, but the East Java Prosecutor's Office only found evidence of corruption from 2016 to 2024.
The alleged corruption carried out by the perpetrators includes corruption in the management of finances at the Surabaya Zoo, which is suspected of also touching the operational budget, including feed and animal care for the period 2016-2024 or for eight years.