Irony of Regent Exposed by KPK: West Lombok's Clean Water Scarcity Marred by Corruption
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has described the case ensnaring West Lombok Regent Lalu Ahmad Zaini as an irony. The KPK stated that the alleged bribery related to a clean water management project occurred while residents in West Lombok were experiencing water shortages.
Initially, the KPK announced Lalu Ahmad as a suspect in a corruption case for allegedly participating in projects and receiving bribes. The total receipts are suspected to have reached Rp 12.4 billion in the form of cash and goods.
“Based on valid preliminary evidence, the KPK then elevated this case to the investigation stage and named three people as suspects,” said KPK Acting Director of Investigations Achmad Taufik Husein during a press conference at the KPK Building, Jalan Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/7/2026).
The suspects are:
Lalu Ahmad Zaini, Regent of West Lombok
Sudirman, President Director of PT Air Minum Giri Menang Lombok Barat (PT AMGM)
Alvonsus Gani, President Director of PT Meconel Sistim Instrument (PT MSI).
The KPK suspects the case began with an order from Lalu Ahmad to the Head of the West Lombok Public Works, Spatial Planning, Public Housing and Settlement Areas Agency (PUPRPKP), Lalu Ratnawi, to help Sudirman obtain projects. Subsequently, Sudirman used CV Dyas Karya Konstruksi (DKK) as a project pool bucket.
“This was done so that CV DKK would not be captured by the public as a project execution rife with conflicts of interest,” he stated.
The tender requirements were then allegedly rigged so that the company used by Sudirman would win. In short, the company used by Sudirman won a project worth Rp 17.9 billion at the West Lombok PUPRPKP Agency through tenders and direct appointments. This included 16 work packages at PT Air Minum Giri Menang, the regional water company, in 2025 worth Rp 1.8 billion.
Sudirman allegedly provided a 3 per cent fee to the providers whose names were borrowed. He is suspected of gaining a profit of Rp 10.6 billion through CV DKK. In addition, CV DKK also received projects at the West Lombok Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) and the Youth and Sports Agency (Dispora), totalling Rp 31.1 billion.
“From the total money received, amounting to Rp 41.7 billion by SUD through CV DKK, a portion was channelled to LAZ as Regent, totalling Rp 10.8 billion,” said Achmad Taufik.
Lalu Ahmad is also suspected of receiving a bribe of Rp 1.6 billion from Alvonsus. The bribe allegedly flowed to Lalu Ahmad through Sudirman after Alvonsus’s company won a clean water management project in West Lombok worth Rp 27.1 billion.
Achmad Taufik considered the case related to water management an irony. He cited data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) showing that many residents in West Lombok have difficulty accessing clean water.
“This incident is also ironic because it occurred amidst various challenges faced by the community, including difficulty in obtaining clean water in West Lombok. Data from the BPS of West Nusa Tenggara Province in 2023 shows that there are still communities and households there that struggle to get a decent source of drinking water,” he said.
He noted that Lalu Ahmad had a long history as the President Director of PT AMGM, the regional water company in West Lombok. He said Lalu Ahmad appeared to be perpetuating corrupt practices.
“This condition is even more concerning, considering that LAZ, as the Regent of West Lombok, previously had 17 years of experience as the President Director of the regional water company PT AMGM, and seemingly perpetuated these practices through the new President Director of PT AMGM,” he stated.
The KPK stated that the case involving Lalu Ahmad and others also contravenes the local culture and customs of Subak. The KPK noted that Subak is an agricultural irrigation system that symbolises justice and togetherness in water management in Lombok.
“Furthermore, these practices also violate the noble values of West Lombok, which are encapsulated in the motto Patut Patuh Patju, referring to justice, propriety, discipline, religious obedience, as well as a spirit of hard work and perseverance,” he said.