Central Java Governor Denies Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq's Statement, Insists He Was Unaware of the Sting Operation

Semarang — The Governor of Central Java (Jawa Tengah) Ahmad Luthfi has rejected the statements by Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq regarding an arrest operation (OTT) that implicates him. In an interview with media at the Merah Putih Building of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, Fadia said she was arrested by KPK investigators while she was with Luthfi.

Luthfi stated that on Monday evening, 2 March 2026, he did receive visits from several regents and vice-regents who met him at his residence in Semarang, including Fadia Arafiq.

According to Luthfi, the meeting discussed the progress of the Free Nutritious Meals program (MBG) in their respective regions. The discussion was also related to the upcoming MBG coordination meeting to be held at the Gradhika Bakti Praja Building, Governor’s Office Complex of Central Java, on the following day, Tuesday, 3 March 2026. Luthfi invited all regents mayors in Central Java to attend the coordination meeting.

In the Monday night meeting with Luthfi, Fadia requested permission to be excused from attending the MBG coordination meeting as scheduled. Luthfi said there were no other discussions beyond that.

“I don’t know about any OTT or the like. I learned about it the morning after the OTT,” Luthfi said in a statement on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.

He said the OTT against Fadia Arafiq should be a lesson for all officials in Central Java. “This should be a lesson for all regents mayors, including ourselves, including all civil servants here, to create clear and good government in our region so as not to violate the law,” Luthfi said.