Investment Ministry Acts on President's Orders Over Viral Extortion Case at Cilegon National Strategic Project
The Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industries/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) immediately followed up on President Prabowo Subianto's instructions regarding the viral case of a local businessman demanding a share in a national strategic project (PSN) in Cilegon, Banten.
In the viral video, an individual businessman in Cilegon, Banten, allegedly attempted to extort the person responsible for the construction of a chlor-alkali ethylene dichloride (CA-EDC) chemical plant. President Prabowo ordered the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industries/BKPM to summon all parties involved to find a resolution.
On Wednesday (14 May 2025), Deputy Minister of Investment and Downstream Industries/Deputy Head of BKPM Todotua Pasaribu convened several parties at his office to discuss the matter that had gone viral on social media.
The meeting was attended by Banten Governor Andra Soni, Cilegon Mayor Robinsar, Banten Regional Police Chief Inspector General Suyudi Ario Seto, Chandra Asri Group Director of Legal, External Relations and Circular Economy Edi Rivai, and Deputy General Chairman Coordinator for Law and Human Rights at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Azis Syamsuddin.
"This meeting was initiated by the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industries because we received instructions from the President and the Minister (Rosan Roeslani), who is also abroad, to facilitate a response to the incident in the Cilegon area involving the investment by Chandra Asri Group and a Kadin organisation, in this case Kadin Cilegon," said Todotua following the meeting at the Ministry of Investment office in Jakarta.
The construction of the PT Chandra Asri Alkali plant has been designated by the government as a National Strategic Project under Presidential Regulation Number 12 of 2025 concerning the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2025-2029. The PSN designation was signed by Prabowo on 10 February 2025. The regulation states that the PSN is to be carried out by a private company, namely the Chandra Asri Group.
Todotua stated that the government regrets the alleged extortion and has asked the Banten Regional Police to investigate conditions on the ground further. He affirmed that legal proceedings would be brought against the individual businessman if criminal conduct is proven.
"This is to create a deterrent effect going forward, particularly with regard to the investment climate in our country," he stressed.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industries proposed a partnership-based management mechanism for project development. The aim is to provide opportunities for local businesses to contribute to regional project development. According to Todotua, the proposal was agreed upon and will be implemented in Cilegon.
In the viral video, an individual businessman in Cilegon, Banten, allegedly attempted to extort the person responsible for the construction of a chlor-alkali ethylene dichloride (CA-EDC) chemical plant. President Prabowo ordered the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industries/BKPM to summon all parties involved to find a resolution.
On Wednesday (14 May 2025), Deputy Minister of Investment and Downstream Industries/Deputy Head of BKPM Todotua Pasaribu convened several parties at his office to discuss the matter that had gone viral on social media.
The meeting was attended by Banten Governor Andra Soni, Cilegon Mayor Robinsar, Banten Regional Police Chief Inspector General Suyudi Ario Seto, Chandra Asri Group Director of Legal, External Relations and Circular Economy Edi Rivai, and Deputy General Chairman Coordinator for Law and Human Rights at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Azis Syamsuddin.
"This meeting was initiated by the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industries because we received instructions from the President and the Minister (Rosan Roeslani), who is also abroad, to facilitate a response to the incident in the Cilegon area involving the investment by Chandra Asri Group and a Kadin organisation, in this case Kadin Cilegon," said Todotua following the meeting at the Ministry of Investment office in Jakarta.
The construction of the PT Chandra Asri Alkali plant has been designated by the government as a National Strategic Project under Presidential Regulation Number 12 of 2025 concerning the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2025-2029. The PSN designation was signed by Prabowo on 10 February 2025. The regulation states that the PSN is to be carried out by a private company, namely the Chandra Asri Group.
Todotua stated that the government regrets the alleged extortion and has asked the Banten Regional Police to investigate conditions on the ground further. He affirmed that legal proceedings would be brought against the individual businessman if criminal conduct is proven.
"This is to create a deterrent effect going forward, particularly with regard to the investment climate in our country," he stressed.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industries proposed a partnership-based management mechanism for project development. The aim is to provide opportunities for local businesses to contribute to regional project development. According to Todotua, the proposal was agreed upon and will be implemented in Cilegon.