The Accusation Of Cooking Oil Corruption Gets Hotter To Fund For Postponing The 2024 Election, Masinton's 'Not Cans' Information Needs To Be Examined By The Attorney General's Office

Masinton/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Information from a member of the PDIP faction of the DPR RI, Masinton Pasaribu, regarding the alleged corruption in granting export permits for crude palm oil (CPO) related to raising funds for the discourse on delaying the 2024 General Election is getting hotter.

Many parties have asked the Attorney General's Office (AGO) to investigate the alleged relationship between the issue. Starting from Commission VI of the DPR in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, anti-corruption activists, to the MPR which has the authority to amend the constitution.

In fact, PDIP itself said that the information obtained from Masinton was not 'cans'. This means that the news that Masinton exhaled could be true.

At first, Masinton asked the AGO to trace the information he got. He even claimed to have data related to the alleged export of oil to finance the postponement of elections from palm oil companies.

"Yes, I have information that part of the scarcity of cooking oil and then the price was made expensive to prioritize export because of the need to maintain the issue of postponing the election," said Masinton, quoted on Sunday, April 24. "The name is information, we have to study it, we have to verify it. But we also can't ignore the information. Moreover, this cooking oil export corruption case has been handled by the Attorney General's Office," he continued.

In response to this, Member of Commission XI of the DPR from the PDIP faction, Hendrawan Supratikno, believes that Masinton's informants regarding reports of corruption in cooking oil for funding the election postponement are not 'cans'.

As if in support, the senior PDIP politician assesses Masinton has the ability to sniff out oligarchic conspiracies. "The senses of the members of the council are different. Regarding the oligarchic conspiracy, Masinton's colleague has a radar with a long range," Hendrawan told reporters, Monday, April 25. The senior PDIP politician then compared Masinton's long-honed skills to the latest memory devices. "The RAM is strong, the latest version and the lithium battery is durable," he said. Hendrawan even revealed that Masinton is a person who is close to important information suppliers.

"It has been honed for a long time. Diligently associate with important sources of information. So it's not a canned class. It's horribly delicious," said Hendrawan.

Member of Commission VI of the DPR from the PKS faction, Amin AK, assessed that, whether it was true or not, the information had caused a stir in the community. It can even erode the level of public trust in the government.

Even so, Amin considered it necessary to take quick and thorough steps to reveal the real facts.

"If the government is able to prove that these allegations are not true, then it will restore public confidence in the government," Amin told VOI, Monday, April 25.

"On the contrary, if it is proven true, then this could be a shameful scandal that becomes a dark record of democracy's journey in the reform era," he continued.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly, Hidayat Nur Wahid, said that if the news of the link between the cooking oil corruption case and the discourse on postponing the election was true, then it was a serious crime that needed to be followed up immediately. Moreover, until there are allegations of corruption to finance constitutional changes in the MPR RI.

"If the news is true from Masinton Pasaribu, the palm oil company sponsored the postponement of the election, the money was to pay for the MPR session to amend the constitution, then this is a very serious crime," Hidayat said when confirmed by VOI, Monday, April 25. ," he continued. Therefore, the Deputy Chairperson of the PKS Syuro Council requested that the Attorney General's Office (Kejagung) who is currently handling the case to follow up and seriously investigate the information from Masinton. Hidayat hopes that this case can be opened openly.

"The AGO should immediately investigate thoroughly and punish (palm companies)," said Hidayat.

MAKI Urges AGO to Invite Masinton

The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) has urged the Attorney General's Office to invite Masinton Pasaribu to explore information regarding cooking oil corruption to fund the issue of delaying the 2024 election.

"All information is legally required to be traced. The AGO needs to invite Masinton to deepen his statement, to obtain evidence and instructions," said MAKI Coordinator, Boyamin Saiman, Monday, April 25. According to Boyamin, Masinton can be invited to be questioned as a witness, as well as to validate the information circulating. "As before, I came to the AGO to provide information regarding the cooking oil dispute. " he said. Boyamin emphasized that the AGO should not immediately conclude that Masinton's information was invalid. He said, by inviting Masinton, the AGO can confirm whether the information referred to is valid.

"The non-political solution is to invite Masinton as a witness, later it will be discovered that the information is valid or just an assumption. After inspection, any information from Masinton will be disclosed to the public," concluded Boyamin.