'Report Pak Amran' Has A Result Of Action: 1 Ministry Of Agriculture Staff Who Asked For Rp600 Million For The Tracker To Be Fired, The Case Was Transferred To The Police

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman (front), Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono (third right), and ranks of the Ministry of Agriculture at a press conference in Jakarta, Friday (11/28/2025). ANTARA/Harianto

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman fired a staff member at his ministry who claimed to be director general (dirjen) and harassed farmers of up to hundreds of millions of rupiah to obtain agricultural equipment and machinery (alsintan) assistance.

Amran admitted that the decision was difficult personally because so far he was used to helping the community. However, all irregularities must still be dealt with firmly because the ministry's facilities come from people's taxes.

"'Pak Amran's report' paid off. There are tractors at 99 points. Every farmer takes the tractor, this staff member asks for payment. Even though it is free for the people. There are employees of the Ministry of Agriculture, so they are dismissed. Is it permissible to do it," Amran said in a decision announced at a press conference in Jakarta, Antara, Friday, November 28.

Based on community reports, the Ministry of Agriculture found that there were levies of Rp. 50 million to Rp. 600 million each time they took alsintan in a number of areas. All of the case files have been submitted to the police for further investigation.

"Immediately follow up, if necessary, bring it, check today. And Mr. Secretary General, stop staff at the ministry. No. I have said, don't mess around. I got it, I will definitely fire it," he said.

He emphasized that the practice of extortion against farmers is inhumane considering that their daily lives have been filled with various difficulties. The state, he said, must be present to ensure that aid is provided free of charge without any levies.

Apart from internal personnel, Amran said that there were outsiders who helped deceive farmers. He also asked the police to immediately hunt down the perpetrators because the action was detrimental to the state and hampered the national aid program.

"The perpetrators are from the Ministry of Agriculture one. From outside there are more. And I stopped today from the ministry," he said.

Of the 99 points found, each point involves a number of recipients so that the potential loss is considered very large. Therefore, quick action is carried out through further collection of evidence and examination.

Amran appreciated the public's courage to report. Of the 2,890 reports included in the week, 504 reports have been verified and become the basis for prosecution which is now producing results in the field.

He emphasized that assistance in the form of tractors, seeds, cocoa seeds, mente, coconut, nutmeg, and sugar cane is a free program with a value of up to trillions of rupiah. Therefore, people are asked to refuse and report if there are parties who ask for fees.

He ensured that the identities of all whistleblowers were kept secret and only known to him and one personal assistant, so that residents could report without fear.

The dismissed Ministry of Agriculture is known to work at the Directorate General of Food Crops, but often claims to be the director-general when serving in the field.

Amran said the person had admitted to receiving the money many times, even though he had previously pretended to be a mistake. This, according to him, shows that the illegal levies must be processed as a criminal act.

"He's still young. I asked him, he immediately cried. 'Do you take money or not?' 'Yes, sir, made a mistake.' How was the mistake? Back and forth took money. Farmers have had a hard life, don't make it hard," said Amran.

Ia tidak mengungkap identitas staf tersebut karena seluruh proses akan ditangani penyidik. Pihak luar yang terlibat, kata dia, juga akan terus dikejar hingga tuntas.

Amran menegaskan kementeriannya berkomitmen membersihkan praktik kecurangan, memastikan bantuan tepat sasaran, serta melindungi petani sebagai pilar ketahanan pangan nasional.

He did not reveal the identity of the staff because the entire process would be handled by investigators. The outside parties involved, he said, would also continue to be pursued thoroughly.

Amran emphasized that his ministry is committed to cleaning up fraudulent practices, ensuring aid is right on target, and protecting farmers as pillars of national food security.