Golkar Urges Respect for Legal Process in Coal Corruption Case
Jakarta - Secretary for Economic Policy at the Golkar Party’s Central Executive Board, Abdul Rahman Farisi, has urged all parties to respect the legal process in handling the alleged corruption case involving coal distribution for steam power plants (PLTU).
‘We ask all parties to respect the ongoing legal process and not to steer public opinion with accusations that are not yet supported by legal facts,’ Abdul Rahman Farisi said in Jakarta on Monday. ‘Let law enforcement officials work based on evidence. Do not steer opinion with accusations unaccompanied by facts.’
He also reminded that political differences should not be brought into the law enforcement process, as this could potentially disrupt objectivity and public trust in law enforcement institutions. ‘Do not let the legal process become a political stage to vent disappointment. What the public needs is professional, independent law enforcement free from political interests,’ he said.
The statement was made in response to remarks by PDI Perjuangan Central Executive Board Chairman Deddy Sitorus, who named Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia as the first person who should be examined in the alleged coal distribution corruption case.
According to Abdul Rahman, the accusation is not based on the chronology of the case currently being investigated by law enforcement. ‘The alleged incident under investigation has been occurring since 2018, while Mr Bahlil only became Minister of ESDM in 2024. Therefore, it is highly inappropriate for him to be directly targeted with accusations without considering the case’s chronology,’ he said.
He assessed that the statement should be addressed more appropriately by respecting the ongoing legal process and entrusting the handling of the case to law enforcement officials based on the evidence they possess. According to him, the law enforcement process will be more effective if all parties prioritise the principle of presumption of innocence and refrain from building opinions that could influence public trust in law enforcement institutions.