Golkar Youth Leader Criticises Lawmaker Deddy Sitorus Over PLN and ESDM Coal Issue

Jakarta - The Secretary-General of the Central Leadership of the Golkar Party’s Young Generation Force (PP AMPG), Ubaidillah, has responded to a statement by House of Representatives member Deddy Sitorus of the PDI Perjuangan faction, who called for Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to be investigated over the issue of coal procurement for PLN. According to Ubaidillah, the statement lacks an adequate basis to implicate the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in a matter of coal supply that is highly technical and conducted on a business-to-business (B to B) basis. ‘I suggest that Saudara Deddy Sitorus continue learning. Do not build opinions that can mislead the public without comprehensively understanding the core of the issue, the chronology, or the authority of the parties linked to this matter,’ Ubaidillah stated. He emphasised that the Ministry of ESDM is merely a regulator that sets the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) quota to ensure domestic needs, including those of PLN, are met. Subsequently, PLN, as the electricity company, is responsible for ensuring its coal supply needs are fulfilled. Citing Government Regulation (PP) 39/2025, a derivative of Law No. 2/2025 on Mineral and Coal Mining, this year’s DMO will be focused on main power plants: PT PLN (Persero) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs), as well as the cement, fertiliser, and paper industries. Therefore, any opinion that drags in the name of the General Chairman of the Golkar Party, Bahlil Lahadalia, is a misguided assumption with no accountable basis. Ubaidillah said it is regrettable if a member of the House of Representatives prioritises a narrative that can trigger speculation among the public rather than promoting objective and fair law enforcement. ‘As a member of the DPR, you should educate the public about the limits of each institution’s authority so as not to generalise that every technical process within PLN is directly linked to the policy of Minister of ESDM Bahlil Lahadalia,’ he said. Ubaidillah asked Deddy Sitorus to understand the limits of the Ministry of ESDM’s authority as a regulator, including being able to separate strategic management and technical management systems within an institution, especially since each institution has separate rules and fiscal governance. Ubaidillah also reminded that issues of public concern should not be used as a tool to attack specific individuals for short-term political interests. ‘Criticism is certainly legitimate in a democracy. However, criticism must be built on data, facts, and accountable arguments. The public sphere must not be filled with opinions that only create noise,’ he said. PP AMPG, he continued, fully supports professional, independent law enforcement free from political intervention. If there are any alleged violations, the entire process must be handed over to law enforcement officials in accordance with statutory provisions. ‘We believe law enforcement officials are capable of working professionally. All parties should exercise restraint and not lead accusations without a strong basis,’ he said. Concluding his statement, Ubaidillah invited all political elites to prioritise democratic ethics and set a good example for the public by expressing opinions responsibly. ‘Let us engage in politics with arguments, not assumptions. Differing views are natural, but we must not sacrifice objectivity and justice for political interests,’ he said.