Central Java Governor Warns Regents and Mayors Against Legal Cases Amid Rising Corruption Incidents
Jakarta — Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi has issued a firm warning to all regents and mayors in Central Java to refrain from becoming entangled in legal cases, particularly corruption.
He stressed that the cases affecting the Regent of Pati and the Regent of Pekalongan should serve as the final warning to the regional government apparatus.
Speaking before the regional heads, Luthfi directly referenced the legal cases that have ensnared local leaders in Pati Regency and Pekalongan Regency in recent times. “First Pati, one and a half months later Pekalongan. I do not want one and a half months from now there to be another. This is a warning for all of us — enough of two cases, let there not be a third,” he stated in an official statement on Wednesday (11 March 2026).
According to Luthfi, these cases should serve as a reminder to all regional heads to carry out their duties with a focus on public service rather than misusing their positional authority. He stressed that public officials are obligated to safeguard their integrity and avoid practices that violate the law, including corruption and gratification.
“As public officials, we must create a bureaucracy that serves with the principles of clear and good governance. Transparency and accountability must be maintained,” he said.
The Central Java governor also requested that regional heads strengthen open governance structures to preserve public confidence in local government.
“I ask the regents and mayors to truly maintain our accountability, our transparency,” he said.
Beyond addressing the integrity of regional officials, Ahmad Luthfi also reminded regional heads to remain in their respective areas during the Lebaran holiday period. This followed a circular from Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian requesting that regional heads remain on alert during the exodus and return migration periods. According to Ahmad Luthfi, regional heads must ensure their areas remain stable during the Lebaran momentum, which is typically marked by a surge in public mobility.
“Lebaran is an annual agenda. As public officials we are accustomed to being like ‘Bang Toyib’ who never goes home. I remind you from H-7 to H+7 to remain in your area,” he said. He also cautioned regional heads against undertaking private foreign travel during this period.
With these warnings, the Central Java Provincial Government hopes that all regional heads will maintain their integrity whilst ensuring that public services continue to operate optimally during the Lebaran period.
The warning was delivered by Ahmad Luthfi during a cross-sectoral coordination meeting in preparation for Lebaran 2026 at Gradhika Bhakti Praja on Monday (9 March 2026). The coordination meeting was attended by all regents and mayors across Central Java alongside members of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) from their respective areas.