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KPK questions Muhaimin after missing first summons
The antigraft body questioned Muhaimin as a witness in an alleged corruption case pertaining to software procurement at the then-named Manpower and Transmigration Ministry when he served as minister between 2009 and 2014.
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National Awakening Party (PKB) leader Muhaimin Iskandar, who was recently declared as running for vice president alongside former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan in the 2024 election, attended a questioning session at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday as part of an investigation into a 2012 graft case at the Manpower Ministry.
The antigraft body questioned Muhaimin as a witness in alleged corruption pertaining to a Rp 20 billion (US$1.3 million) software procurement for migrant workers’ protection at the ministry in 2012 when he served as the manpower and transmigration minister.
Muhaimin came to the KPK headquarters around 10 a.m. After the five-hour interrogation, the PKB politician told the press he supported the antigraft body’s investigation.
“I have explained to the investigators as far as I know,” Muhaimin said. “I hope my answers can help the KPK to investigate the corruption case thoroughly and swiftly.”
KPK leaders greenlighted the investigation into the 2012 case in July, followed by the naming of three suspects by investigators. They also searched offices of the Manpower Ministry in Jakarta and a house in Bekasi, West Java, in August, although the KPK declined to disclose the owner of the searched house.
The antigraft body claimed the case had cost the state some Rp 1 billion. The 2019 KPK Law mandates that the commission has the authority to investigate and prosecute corruption cases involving law enforcers, state officials and related individuals that cost the state at least Rp 1 billion.
The questioning against Muhaimin was initially scheduled for Tuesday. Muhaimin, however, was unable to be present as he had to attend the opening of an international Quran recitation competition (MTQ) in Tanah Laut regency, South Kalimantan.
The competition was organized by the regency administration in collaboration with an organizational wing of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization, which Muhaimin is also affiliated with.
In an unexpected turn of events, the competition committee asked Muhaimin to refrain from opening and attending the event despite him having already arrived at the venue several hours before the ceremony.
Tanah Laut Regent Sukamta claimed the committee never invited Muhaimin in the first place. He said he asked the PKB politician to cancel his attendance because the competition was an official event held by the government.
“I don’t want his attendance at this event then misinterpreted and framed in a political way. It won’t do good for him and us. This is for the greater good,” Sukamta said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.id.
The KPK summons came just a few days after Muhaimin officially declared his running as vice presidential candidate for the Coalition for Change and Unity (KPP) on Saturday in Surabaya, East Java. The coalition is backing Anies as its presumptive presidential candidate.
Members of the NasDem Party, a member of the KPP alliance, questioned the KPK’s move to question Muhaimin following the VP bid declaration.
The antigraft body denied that its summons of Muhaimin was politically motivated, asserting that the investigation of the case kicked off before Muhaimin made the declaration with Anies.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD also played down suggestions that the KPK summons was politically driven, saying the law should not be used as a tool to create political pressure.
The summon against Muhaimin is the second time the KPK has been accused of playing politics ahead of the 2024 elections.
KPK chair Firli Bahuri previously removed former investigations director Endar Priantoro after the latter refused to launch a full investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the 2022 Formula E racing event in Jakarta, a project that Anies was close to as the city’s governor at the time.
This is not Muhaimin’s first time to be grilled by the KPK. In 2012, when serving as then-manpower and transmigration minister, investigators questioned him about a Rp 1.5 billion bribery case that involved his ministry. The questioning took place after a wiretapped phone conversation presented at a Jakarta court hearing mentioned his name.
