Agriculture Minister vows thorough investigation into individuals impersonating the ministry over fictitious projects

Jakarta — The Agricultural Minister, Andi Amran Sulaiman, has assured that allegations of outsiders misusing the name of the Ministry of Agriculture by promising fictitious projects to private sector parties will be investigated thoroughly. ‘We call on the police to investigate thoroughly to the roots; if anyone is involved in the Ministry of Agriculture, I assure you I will dismiss them,’ Amran said in Jakarta on Tuesday. The minister revealed suspicions that there are individuals who use the ministry’s name to demand Rp300 million from private parties in exchange for government agricultural projects. Amran said the case is currently being investigated by law enforcement agencies and is considered a ‘mafia of project’ practice under the guise of a ministry. ‘Is this also categorised as mafia? Because he is using the name of the Ministry of Agriculture to ask money from a person; according to the report, Rp300 million,’ he said. In the case, Amran named the money recipient with initials H, while the party handing over the money with initials R after being promised a ministry agricultural project. When asked whether the perpetrators are civil servants, Amran said those involved are private sector and not internal ministry staff. He explained the modus operandi involves claiming to have a protector and a strong network within the agricultural sector, thus believed capable of helping secure the project through non-official channels. ‘He (the alleged offender) is a private individual, thinking that he has protection in agriculture, has a network in agriculture that could win a project,’ Amran said. ‘It turns out the promised project did not occur,’ Amran added. He said such practices are not the first time; previously a similar case with a value of Rp27 billion was found, using a pattern of promising projects from the ministry. Moreover, at the start of his tenure as Agriculture Minister, Amran also uncovered cases of Rp350 million and Rp150 million demands that led to dismissals of internal ministry personnel. According to Amran, if investigations uncover any Ministry of Agriculture employees involved, they will be dismissed immediately without tolerance or warning. He hopes both the giver and receiver can be processed legally to prevent a mafia-like practice of projects funded by a ministry from recurring in the agriculture sector. ‘This is currently under investigation by law enforcement, and I ask that both the giver and the recipient be punished if possible,’ Amran said.