Golkar Says Deddy Sitorus' Coal Corruption Allegations Are Misdirected, Here's Why

Jakarta – A member of the House of Representatives’ Commission XII from the Golkar Party faction, Jamaludin Malik, has stated that a remark by fellow House member Deddy Sitorus in a national media outlet, requesting that Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia be investigated over alleged coal corruption, is off-target. According to Jamaludin, every issue must be viewed based on the applicable authority and mechanisms. He stressed that coal procurement for domestic needs is a business-to-business transaction. Therefore, it is inappropriate for every problem in the procurement process to be immediately attributed as the responsibility of the Energy Minister. “Do not conflate the government’s authority as a regulator with the procurement process carried out through a business-to-business mechanism. If there is a problem in the procurement transaction, trace the process, examine the parties involved, and see where the violation lies. Do not immediately jump to conclusions and accuse parties who may not be connected,” Jamaludin told reporters on Tuesday, 14 July 2026. Jamaludin assessed that Deddy’s statement could potentially obscure the main issue that should be the focus, namely how to ensure that coal procurement governance runs transparently, professionally, and has a strong supervisory system. “If we misidentify the source of the problem, then the solution taken will also be wrong. What must be uncovered is the procurement chain. Who conducted the transaction, how was the quality and volume verification process, how was the supervision, and where are the gaps for alleged irregularities,” he said. According to Jamaludin, accountability must be built based on facts, authority, and the involvement of each party, not on political assumptions. He urged all parties not to use legal issues to build a narrative that pre-empts the work of law enforcement officials. “If there is a violation, it must of course be acted upon according to the facts and evidence found. However, every issue in the energy sector needs to be viewed based on the division of authority, procurement mechanisms, and the responsibilities of each party. Therefore, it is important to first understand the construction of the problem thoroughly so that the conclusions conveyed to the public remain objective and on target,” he asserted.