Banser Disperses from Anti-Corruption Commission Following Request by PBNU Chairman
Members of the Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser), the youth wing of Gerakan Pemuda (GP) Ansor, began leaving the KPK’s Red and White Building shortly after former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was transferred to KPK’s State Detention Centre.
According to CNNIndonesia.com’s observation, the crowd reacted strongly upon learning that Yaqut was wearing the orange detention uniform distinctive to KPK custody and was being transferred to the detention centre. This contradicted the crowd’s demands for Yaqut’s release.
The crowd was observed burning clothing bearing the letters “KPK” and hurling insults at the anti-corruption agency.
Tensions began to ease when a voice recording from PBNU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf was played by one of the action’s organisers. The voice recording was played through a mobile device belonging to someone identified as a staff member of Yahya.
Yahya expressed gratitude for the support Banser had provided for his brother, who is facing legal proceedings at the KPK. He asked the crowd to return home whilst continuing to monitor the legal process until justice was obtained.
“Dear friends of Ansor, Banser, and Pagar Nusa, whom I respect. Thank you for your obedience from all of you because we all appreciate the aspirations of all of you and our collective loyalty to the organisation,” Yahya said through the voice recording.
“Certainly we see, witness, and understand the objective legal process. Your aspirations have been conveyed. And now we entrust it, we hand it over, we ask Allah Almighty to open the hearts of all people,” he added.
According to Yahya, regardless of what happens, truth must be upheld through a fair and objective process. This is important, he said, for everyone to be accountable for their actions before Allah.
“Now, after everything has been carried out and we have expressed our feelings and thoughts, I ask all of you to strengthen your hearts, be patient, and I ask you to return home, to your respective places in an orderly manner,” he said.
“Although of course after this we will continue to strive to protect and uphold truth so that it is upheld correctly, upheld without blemish, upheld without other interests corrupting it,” he stated.
Upon hearing this advice, at precisely 20:00 WIB, the crowd began to disperse.
The KPK has officially remanded Yaqut for an initial 20-day period from today until 31 March 2026 at the Detention Centre of the Red and White Building.
Yaqut, along with his special staff member named Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, is suspected of violating Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 of the Anti-Corruption Law (UU Tipikor) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) subsection 1 of the Criminal Code.