House Commission II on Causes of Regional Heads' Corruption

Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Commission II, Dede Yusuf Macan Effendi, has responded to the spate of regional heads committing corruption. According to him, corruption occurs because of unlimited authority. “Absolute authority, power, and the ability to pressure subordinates,” he said on Sunday, 5 July 2026.

Dede stated that Commission II will review the duties and authorities of regional heads as stipulated in the Regional Government Law. He did not rule out the possibility of revising the authorities held by regional heads so they do not become absolute power. “If that authority is reduced, then the culture of corruption will also decrease,” said the Democratic Party politician.

On the other hand, Dede assessed that the high cost of politics is only a minor cause of corruption by regional heads. Regarding the financial rights of regional heads, which are considered not yet proportional, he explained that this factor is not everything. He argued that all operational needs for regional heads should already be funded. He noted that many regional heads are able to complete their duties well. “It goes back to the initial intention, whether to serve and develop the region or to seek personal gain,” he said.

Throughout mid-2026, nine regional heads were implicated in corruption cases. The most recent were the Regent of Kuantan Singingi, Suhardiman Amby, and the Regent of Langkat, Syah Afandin, who were named suspects by the Corruption Eradication Commission. More broadly, Indonesia Corruption Watch recorded that 356 regional heads at the provincial, district, and city levels were named suspects in corruption cases between 2010 and 2024. The most common modus operandi involved the buying and selling of positions and irregularities in procurement projects for goods and services.