Central Java Regent Arrested Again, KP2KKN: Integrity Pact Just a Ceremony

The Secretary of the Central Java Committee for the Investigation and Eradication of Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism (KP2KKN), Ronny Maryanto, stated that the signing of integrity pacts by regional heads some time ago does not prove their commitment to abstaining from corruption. His statement relates to the latest sting operation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) which ensnared Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani. “We, as members of the public, do not believe in the signing of that pact. Because it was done several years ago and it is not effective enough to eradicate corruption in Central Java. So it is just a ceremony,” Ronny said during an interview on Friday (10/7/2026). According to him, regents and mayors are often shackled by the ‘demand’ to recoup campaign capital. Ronny believes the shortcut to achieving this is through corruption. “I think in these two years, many regional heads have been trying to collect their campaign capital. This is truly ironic. Was the last election so damaged, was money politics so massive, that they are trying to recover their capital within two years,” Ronny stated. Ronny said the alleged case involving Sukoharjo Regent Etik Suryani is not a new pattern. “These are old patterns that keep repeating. For example, the buying and selling of positions as in the case of Pati Regent Sudewo, then projects as in Pekalongan, and extortion,” he said. “We will just wait and see where it happens next after Sukoharjo. Because as we see it, the potential is still quite large,” Ronny added.