Golkar Urges PDIP Not to Make Baseless Accusations Over Coal Corruption Allegations

Jakarta, VIVA – Bambang Patijaya, Chair of Commission XII of the DPR RI from the Golkar Party faction, has responded to remarks by DPR RI member Deddy Sitorus in a national media outlet calling for the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) to be examined over coal procurement issues.

Bambang asserted that the coal procurement mechanism is a business-to-business (B2B) transaction. Therefore, he argued, the focus now should be on improving procurement governance, from the procurement process and supervision through to the receipt of coal.

“Coal procurement is a business-to-business transaction. So what we need to fix is the governance of procurement. From the procurement process, quality and volume supervision, through to the receipt of coal, everything must be run professionally, transparently, and without leaving room for fraudulent practices,” Bambang said in a written statement on Monday, 13 July 2026.

He therefore asked Deddy Sitorus not to comment on matters he does not fully understand. According to Bambang, the issue should be examined based on facts and the applicable procurement mechanism, not by throwing accusations at various parties.

“Mr Deddy Sitorus need not comment on something he does not fully know about. There is no need to seek popularity by pointing fingers here and there and looking for scapegoats over matters he knows nothing about,” he stressed.

In Bambang’s view, what matters more now is ensuring that the problems in coal procurement governance are resolved to their root. Any suspected violations must be handled based on facts and evidence, while weaknesses in the procurement system must be fixed immediately so that similar problems do not recur.

“Let us not waste our energy simply accusing one another. What is needed now is an improvement in governance. If there is any suspected violation, let the law enforcement agencies do their work. We are focused on ensuring that the coal procurement system going forward is better, transparent, and accountable,” said the legislator from the Bangka Belitung electoral district.

Bambang added that Commission XII of the DPR RI will continue to carry out its oversight function to encourage stronger governance in the electricity sector, particularly in the procurement of primary energy, so that supply for power plants can be guaranteed and the public interest remains protected.