Deputy Regent: I Feel Insulted by the Lebak Regent's Statement

Deputy Regent of Lebak Amir Hamzah is angry over a statement by Lebak Regent Hasbi Asyidiki Jayabaya, which alluded to his past as a former convict. He considers Hasbi’s statement to be an insult.

“When he (Hasbi) mentioned, for example, ‘Si Amir, the former convict, uyuhan geus jadi wakil bupati geh’ (it’s still better that a former inmate became deputy regent). Well, that’s a personal insult, that’s why I stood up from my seat, wanting to tell the Regent not to speak like that,” said Amir, as quoted by Detik on Tuesday (31/3).

Amir stated that Hasbi’s remark during the halal bihalal event in the Lebak Regency Government environment had no connection to his position as deputy regent. He felt insulted by the statement.

“I felt insulted at that time because in public he spoke about personal matters, and it had no relation to work, that’s why I spontaneously wanted to warn him,” he said.

Amir admitted to often receiving harsh jabs from Hasbi. Even, he said, department heads and civil servants also experience the same.

“This is the second time, and perhaps in some departments, he actually often speaks harshly like this. Language that is not appropriate to be conveyed in a meeting,” he revealed.

Amir assessed that the current progress of infrastructure development in the Lebak region is already good. However, according to him, Regent Hasbi’s attitude could have a negative impact on the government’s image.

“Compared to other regions, we are good; our city roads are good, irrigation is good, village roads, regency roads are good, our APBD composition is good compared to other regions equivalent to us. But because of poor coordination, many hurtful speeches, in the end what is good becomes bad,” he said.

The tension between the Regent and Deputy Regent of Lebak occurred during the halal bihalal event held at the Regent’s Pendopo in Lebak on Monday (30/3). Initially, Hasbi gave a speech and directions to civil servants to carry out tasks and functions in accordance with applicable regulations.

Hasbi then alluded to the authority of the deputy regent’s position, which, according to him, Amir Hamzah often holds meetings with department heads. He mentioned that based on Article 66 of Law No. 20 of 2023 on Civil Servants, the deputy regent has limitations in coordinating with the OPD ranks.

“The deputy regent in the Civil Servants Law Article 66 has clear duties, not to play around with department heads at their homes. That article states that if delegated or the regent is absent, that’s the only duty of the deputy regent,” said Hasbi in his speech.

After that, Hasbi recounted Amir Hamzah’s past when he was a convict in the 2013 Pilkada bribery case. Amir was found to have bribed former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Akil Mochtar.

“Uyuhan (it’s still better) a former convict became deputy regent, be grateful,” said Hasbi in front of Amir.