DPR Member Slams Regent Fadia: Regional Leaders Must Know the Law

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Ahmad Irawan, a member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), says every regional head must be aware of legal matters and governance. He argues that the reason given by Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq for not understanding the law, citing her background as a dangdut singer, is not acceptable. ‘In my view, from the standpoint of the legal fiction principle, everyone is presumed to know the law (presumptio iuris de iure). Moreover, for a regional head you are required to know the law,’ Ahmad said when contacted on Friday (6 March 2026). ‘From various state bodies/agencies you can also ask or seek clarification if there are things you want to know,’ Ahmad stressed. In every region, Ahmad explained, there are facilities and apparatus to help regional heads carry out their duties. ‘Such as the regional bureaucracy to be a supporting system to assist the regional head in administration, management and operations to ensure governance in accordance with the law,’ Ahmad said. Fadia is suspected of intervening so that her company, PT RNB (Raja Nusantara Berjaya), would win outsourcing services procurement projects in several Pemkab Pekalongan regional devices/agencies. KPK, based on results of intensive examinations, said that Fadia admitted not knowing the law and governance. ‘In the intensive examination, FAR stated that she comes from a dangdut musician background, not a bureaucrat and does not understand law and governance of the region,’ said KPK’s Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at a press conference at Gedung Merah Putih, Jakarta, Wednesday (4 March 2026). Fadia, Asep said, stated that bureaucratic technical matters were ultimately handed over to the Regional Secretary (Sekda). Asep noted that what Fadia did contradicted the principle of presumptio iures de iure or the theory of legal fiction. ‘Moreover, FAR has served as Regent or State Administrator for two terms and once as Deputy Regent from 2011-2016,’ said Asep. Meanwhile, the Pekalongan Regency Secretary and several other parties have repeatedly warned Fadia about potential conflicts of interest in her involvement with her company in Pemkab projects. ‘Nevertheless, the practice continued by the Regent,’ he added. For her actions, Fadia is charged with corruption as regulated in Article 12 letter i and Article 12 B of Indonesian Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Tindak Pidana Korupsi as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 on Amendments to Law Number 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Tindak Pidana Korupsi, in conjunction with Article 127(1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pi­dana (KUHP).