Fadia Arafiq Admits She Does Not Understand the Rules; Deputy Home Affairs Minister: That's Why She Must Learn
Pekalongan regent Fadia Arafiq defended her background as a dangdut musician, saying it left her unfamiliar with the rules. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya emphasised that regional leaders, as the highest leaders of local bureaucracy, should learn.
“The regional head is the supreme leader of the local bureaucracy; they must not only master it but also control it and be fully responsible,” Bima Arya told reporters on Thursday, 5 March 2026. He stressed that this responsibility should be understood from the outset when someone decides to stand in regional head elections, particularly for those without a governance background.
“This is what should be understood when deciding to become a regional head. If your background is not governance politics, then learn quickly,” he said.
“It is not possible to entrust everything to the secretary to the region (sekda). Because the sekda carries out orders to coordinate policy as the most senior bureaucrat,” he added.
Bima said that currently the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian has appointed Pekalongan Vice Regent Sukirman as acting regent (plt). He said the instruction had been conveyed by the Home Minister to the Governor of Central Java.
“Yesterday, the Home Minister sent a radiogram to the Governor of Central Java, appointing the Vice Regent as acting head to run the wheels of government in Pekalongan Regency,” he explained.
Further, Bima also touched on legal measures against several regional heads implicated in corruption cases. He stressed that law enforcement agencies will act without prejudice.
“Eight regional heads implicated come from different parties. In other words, law enforcement will not show favouritism toward regional heads who commit corruption; there is no protection or privilege, everyone must shun corrupt practices,” he said.
He also reminded that the role of regional head is a form of service to the public. The position is not a means for personal gain.
“Regional heads serve the people; the job is a service, not a livelihood or a source of enrichment,” he stated.
Previously, the KPK named Fadia a suspect in an alleged corruption case related to procurement projects in Pekalongan Regency. The KPK said Fadia claimed that her background as a dangdut musician made her fail to understand regulations.
“In the intensive examination conducted, FAR explained that she comes from a background as a musician; she is not a bureaucrat. This is what Ms. FAR conveyed; thus, Ms. FAR does not understand the law and governance of local government,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution, Asep Guntur Rahayu, at a press conference at the KPK building, Jalan Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.
Asep said that Fadia also claimed that bureaucratic matters were handed over to Pekalongan’s regional secretary. He noted that Fadia said she spent more time on ceremonial duties.
“FAR stated that technical bureaucratic matters were handed to the regional secretary (sekda), while she spent more time carrying out ceremonial functions within Pekalongan Regency,” he added.