KPK: Pekalongan Regent Fadia Admits Dangdut Singer Who Does Not Understand the Law Yet Continues to Work on Projects

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said, based on intensive examinations, Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq disclosed that she has a background as a dangdut musician. Although she says she is not a bureaucrat, Fadia continued to oversee the Pekalongan Regency government projects even though she does not understand how the law and governance of local government work. ‘In the intensive examination, FAR explained that she has a background as a dangdut musician, not a bureaucrat and does not understand law and governance,’ said Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, at a press conference at the Merah Putih Building, Jakarta, on Wednesday (4/3/2026). ‘FAR says bureaucratic technical matters are delegated to the Regional Secretary (Sekda), while she more often performs ceremonial functions within Pekalongan Regency,’ he said. Asep noted that what Fadia did contradicted the principle of presumptio iuris de iure (the legal fiction theory). ‘Moreover, FAR is a regent or state administrator for two terms and has served once as Vice Regent from 2011-2016,’ he added. However, Fadia continued to work on a regency procurement project due to conflicts of interest in the procurement. ‘The Regional Secretary and several other parties repeatedly reminded the Regent about the potential conflicts of interest in the procurement. Nevertheless, the practice continued,’ he said. Asep said the case began when Fadia Arafiq, just one year into her term as Pekalongan regent for the 2021-2025 period, founded a company with her husband, also a member of the House of Representatives, Mukhtaruddin Ashraff Abu, and their son, a member of the Regional People’s Representative Council, Muhammad Sabiq Ashraff, named PT RNB (Raja Nusantara Berjaya). PT RNB is a service-provision company that actively served as a vendor in the procurement of goods and services within Pekalongan Regency government. Asep noted that Muhammad Sabiq Ashraff served as commissioner of PT RNB and Muhammad Sabiq Ashraff as director. Then in 2024, Fadia replaced the director of PT RNB with her trusted ally named Rul Bayatun. ‘After one year of operation, throughout 2023-2026, PT RNB has secured outsourcing service procurement projects across several regional government units of Pekalongan Regency,’ he said. On account of her actions, Farida has been charged with corruption under Article 12 letter i and Article 12 B of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Tindak Pidana Korupsi as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law No. 31 of 1999, in conjunction with Article 127(1) of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP).