Meranti Regent Controversy: Formerly Extremely Poor Regional Protests, Now OTT KPK

Meranti Regent Controversy: Formerly Extremely Poor Regional Protests, Now OTT KPK

Merati Islands Regent Muhammad Adil was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in a sting operation on Thursday (6/4/2023) evening. 

Adil was arrested along with dozens of other people consisting of strategic officials from the Meranti Islands Regency Government and private parties. 

"Several parties have been arrested including the Regent," KPK Enforcement and Institutional Spokesman Ali Fikri told http://Kompas.com/, Friday (7/4/2023). 

Ali said the KPK was still digging for information regarding the alleged corruption case involving Adil. 

Adil and the parties arrested by the KPK will soon be taken to Jakarta to undergo further investigation. 

"The KPK team immediately brought them to Jakarta for an examination at the Red and White Building this morning. Temporary information is scheduled from the TKP at 10 o'clock," said Ali. 

The KPK has 1x24 hours after an arrest to determine the legal status of those caught in last night's OTT. 

"Afterward, we will certainly convey the complete results of these activities as part of the KPK's information disclosure to the public," said Ali. 

Upset to the Ministry of Finance

Before being arrested by the KPK, Adil had become a byword in society in December 2022 when he spilled his frustrations with the Director General of Fiscal Balance at the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) Luky Alfirman. 

Adil admitted that he was annoyed because the value of the production sharing funds (DBH) for oil production from Meranti provided by the Ministry of Finance was not comparable to production and rising oil prices. 

He said Meranti oil lifting currently reached 7,500 barrels per day, from previously only in the range of 3,000-4,000 barrels per day. 

Meanwhile, the assumed oil price in the state budget rose to US$100 per barrel from the previous US$60 per barrel. 

However, the profit-sharing funds he received this year amounted to Rp 115 billion. According to him, this amount only increased by around Rp. 700 million from the previous year. 

Meanwhile, on the other hand, the Meranti Islands have the status of one of the poorest regions in Indonesia with a poor population reaching 25.68 percent. 

"Meranti is the poorest area in Indonesia, oil producer, poorest, extreme again. My question is, how are we not poor, our money is not given," said Adil. 

Adil also made a statement that the central government no longer needs to take the Meranti Islands Regency's natural resources if it doesn't want to take care of the area. 

He even mentioned that the central government could also hand over the Meranti area to neighboring countries. 

"I mean, if the center doesn't want to take care of Meranti, give us to the neighboring country. I'm talking (complaining about revenue sharing), or you don't understand what I'm saying either," said Adil. 

"Does Meranti need to take up arms? It's impossible. This concerns the problem of Meranti who is extremely poor," he said. 

Minister of Home Affairs reprimanded

Adil's strong statement was discussed for several days but ended after Adil received a strong rebuke from the Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian. 

Minister of Home Affairs Tito emphasized that regional heads must be ethical even though they are facing problems. 

"As a regional head, whatever the problem, you must use ethical language and show a statesmanship," said Tito. 

Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs Suhajar Diantoro also advised Adil to maintain ethics in communicating because Adil's attitudes and statements were inappropriate for a public official. 

"What is the concern and hope of the Meranti Islands Regent can actually be communicated and resolved properly, so as not to cause uproar in the community," said Suhajar. 

Profile of Muhammad Adil

Muhammad Adil himself is the regent of the Meranti Islands who will serve the period 2021-2026. 

He and his deputy, AKBP (Purn) Asmar, won the Meranti Islands Pilkada after obtaining 38.4 percent of the vote. 

Before becoming regent, this man who was born on April 18, 1972 had sat as a member of the DPRD of Meranti Islands Regency and Riau Province. 

Adil has the status of a PDI Perjuangan cadre since 2021 after previously taking part in the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) and the National Awakening Party (PKB).