KPK urges regional heads to stop THR and grants to vertical agencies

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has reminded regional heads not to provide holiday allowances (THR) or grant funds to vertical agencies in their regions.

“Several cases handled by the KPK recently mentioned THR. This has also been noted. I hope it can serve as a good learning process for everyone so that it does not happen again in the regions,” said KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto at the Ministry of Home Affairs building in Jakarta on Monday.

The statement was delivered in front of hundreds of regional heads and deputy heads at the launch of the Anti-Corruption Education Guide and Teaching Materials organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs, both in person and online.

According to Setyo, vertical agencies in the regions have already received funding through the state revenue and expenditure budget (APBN), so regional heads do not need to provide additional grant funds.

“If given to law enforcement officials with the hope that there might be no further probing or investigation, and so on, that is certainly not right,” he said.

“I am sure regional heads are also stressed in managing budgets as maximally as possible with good strategies and methods without breaking the rules,” he added.

Meanwhile, several cases handled by the KPK involving alleged THR provisions are reflected in three sting operations (OTT) in 2026.

The alleged modus operandi of providing THR to the regional leadership coordination forum (forkopimda) was initially uncovered from the OTT against the Regent of Cilacap, Syamsul Auliya Rachman.

In the case of the Regent of Rejang Lebong, Muhammad Fikri Thobari, the KPK initially stated that the regional head received alleged bribe money which was then to be used for THR distribution. However, it has not been mentioned regarding plans to provide THR to the forkopimda in that region.

On 21 April 2026, the KPK revealed that it examined two Police members, two prosecutors, and one civil servant to investigate the THR provision by Fikri Thobari to the Forkopimda of Rejang Lebong Regency.

Examples of vertical agencies in the regions include provincial police (Polda), district police (Polres), and district prosecutor’s offices (Kejaksaan Negeri).