Alleged Involvement of Civil Servant in Failed Pesparawi Contingent Departure Deemed Personal Matter

The Secretariat of the Riau Islands (Kepri) Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) has asserted that the alleged involvement of a civil servant (ASN) with the initials H in the polemic surrounding the failed departure of the Kepri Women’s Choir (PSW) contingent to the XIV National Pesparawi in Manokwari, West Papua, is not connected to the institution where he works. The action was described as a purely personal matter.

Head of General Affairs and Public Relations Protocol for the Kepri DPRD Secretariat, Isnaini Bayu Wibowo, stated that the alleged involvement of H was a personal affair and had no connection to the Kepri DPRD Secretariat. “To our knowledge, this is a personal matter for the individual concerned. We do not know exactly how he was involved, and there has never been any notification or assignment from the institution,” Bayu said, as quoted by detikSumut on Tuesday.

Bayu explained that H did have a relationship or cooperation with certain parties regarding ticket arrangements. This was done in a personal capacity, not representing the DPRD Secretariat. “We emphasise that this has nothing to do with the Secretariat. If there was any involvement, it was purely a personal matter,” he stated.

Regarding the possibility of sanctions against H, Bayu said that to date, the institution has no basis for imposing disciplinary punishment because there has been no official report or legal process involving the employee.

Previously, the Director of PT Riski Efanti Bersaja, Vivi Efanti, admitted to cooperating with an individual from the Kepri DPRD Secretariat, identified as H, in managing the departure tickets for the Pesparawi contingent. Vivi stated that the cooperation was carried out without the knowledge of the Kepri Pesparawi Development Institute (LPPD) or the committee.