6 Regional Heads Caught in OTT, Tito Alludes to Direct Regional Elections
Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian believes the proliferation of regional heads caught in the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) handcatch operations (OTT) may stem from the direct regional election system by the public. The former Chief of the Indonesian National Police also stated that direct regional elections do not guarantee the selection of competent and integrity-filled leaders.
“Who chooses them? The people. What does that mean? Could this be related to the direct regional election recruitment mechanism? It turns out it doesn’t guarantee,” Tito said at the House of Representatives Complex in Jakarta on Monday, 13 April 2026.
Throughout 2026, the KPK has conducted 10 covert operations that ensnared six regional heads. The most recent involved the Regent of Tulungagung, East Java, Gatut Sunu Wibowo, who was arrested on 10 April 2026 on allegations of extorting heads of regional apparatus organisations and officials in the government environment. Gatut is suspected of demanding kickback payments ranging from Rp 15 million to Rp 2.8 billion.
Gatut is the sixth regional leader ensnared in a KPK OTT. Previously, five other regional heads arrested by the KPK in different cases were the Mayor of Madiun Maidi, the Regent of Pati Sudewo, the Regent of Pekalongan Fadia A Rafiq, the Regent of Rejang Lebong Muhammad Fikri Thobari, and the Regent of Cilacap Syamsul Auliya Rachma.
Observing the prevalence of regional heads involved in alleged corruption crimes, Tito said he does not view it merely case by case. He believes this situation indicates a systematic problem in the selection of regional heads.
“There is a fundamental problem. Perhaps one of them is the recruitment mechanism that has been used so far. They are all results of direct elections,” Tito said.
Nevertheless, Tito stated that the direct regional election system still has advantages. However, he concluded his statement by mentioning several shortcomings of direct regional elections. “Among them is the high political cost, and it does not guarantee that the elected person is a good one,” he said.
The issue of reverting to indirect regional elections was rumoured until early this year. Tito also once stated that changing the regional election system does not require constitutional amendments, but merely a revision of the Regional Election Law.
“It’s up to the DPR, the Government, and political parties; the public might also want to change it to the Regional People’s Representative Council, it’s easy, in my opinion, just amend the Regional Election Law,” Tito said at the ‘New Year Spirit 2026’ event, monitored via IDN Times YouTube on Wednesday, 14 January 2026.