KPK's Response to the Procurement of People's School Shoes Worth Rp 27 Billion

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Vice Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Agus Joko Pramono has responded to the procurement of shoes for People’s School students, amounting to Rp 27 billion or Rp 700,000 per pair. The procurement of these shoes has drawn criticism from the public and harbours potential corruption loopholes. “In the context of prevention, it can be done,” Agus said at the Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (5/5/2026). Agus explained that the KPK is still studying the matter. Nevertheless, the KPK is not solely focusing on footwear for People’s School students. It is known that the public has highlighted the procurement of 39,345 pairs of shoes at Rp 700,000 each, with a total budget of Rp 27 billion. Social Affairs Minister (Mensos) of the Republic of Indonesia, Saifullah Yusuf or Gus Ipul, has spoken out regarding the budget for the shoe procurement for People’s School students. Gus Ipul stated that the Rp 27 billion budget for the shoes is still in the initial planning stage. Subsequently, they will proceed with the procurement process. “This procurement process will be tendered openly, and the result will certainly be cheaper than the planning,” said Gus Ipul when met at the People’s School Kedung Cowek project site in Surabaya on Monday (4/5/2026). Therefore, Gus Ipul has warned his members at the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) not to play around with the budget so that the programme runs well. “I have conveyed to those responsible that there must be no lobbying, placements, engineering, or anything hidden in the procurement process,” he clarified.