Bobby Speaks Out on 'Ondim, Ongkos Di Muka' Joke Aimed at Langkat Regent

Langkat Regent Syah Afandin, also known as Ondim, was caught in a sting operation by the Corruption Eradication Commission. Amid the emerging case, a video showing North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution joking about Ondim’s nickname went viral on social media. In the circulating video, Bobby is seen making the joke while attending the inauguration of North Sumatra PAN officials on Sunday, 14 June. The recording shows Bobby quipping that Ondim’s name stands for ‘Ongkos Di Muka’ (Upfront Payment). The joke was made before the KPK’s sting operation against Ondim related to corruption in Langkat last week. When asked for his response to the resurfaced video, Bobby reacted casually. He instead directed the question to Langkat Deputy Regent Tiorita Br Surbakti, whom Bobby had just appointed as Acting Regent of Langkat. ‘Just ask Mrs Teo about that, what her commitment is,’ Bobby said at the North Sumatra Provincial Government Office in Medan on Monday, 6 July. However, Tiorita chose not to answer the question. Ondim was caught in a KPK sting operation in North Sumatra on Thursday, 2 July. He has been taken to Jakarta by the KPK, named a suspect, and detained. Syah Afandin is suspected of receiving bribes for projects at the Langkat Regency Education Office and the Langkat Regency Public Housing and Settlement Areas Office totalling IDR 800 million. The money was allegedly received from a private party and his campaign team member for the 2024 regional election, Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu’arif. During the operation, the KPK arrested seven people: Syah Afandin, Yaqub Abdhal Al Mu’arif, Acting Head of the Langkat Education Office Ilhamsyah, the regent’s aide Akbar, the regent’s driver Zulkifli, Syahrial, and a private party named Sugiarto. It is known that several weeks before the sting, Ondim’s name was the subject of a joke by North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution during the inauguration of PAN regional and branch officials for the 2024-2029 period. The moment occurred at the inauguration event held at IKM Hall Deli Husada, Deliserdang, on Sunday, 14 June 2026. The event was also attended by PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan. On that occasion, Syah Afandin was inaugurated as Chairman of the North Sumatra PAN Regional Board, accompanied by Dedy Irawan as Secretary and Mora Harahap as Treasurer. During his speech, Bobby joked with the PAN cadres by asking the meaning of Ondim’s nickname. ‘You already know, right? For those who don’t, On-Dim is an abbreviation for Ongkos Di Muka,’ Bobby said, greeted by laughter from the PAN cadres. Bobby continued his joke by suggesting the newly inaugurated PAN officials should be asked if the term also applied during the election process in their respective regions. He concluded his jest by praising the event’s organisation, noting the venue was much larger than previous locations.