Nommensen Library Urges Independent Audit of Rp14.53 Billion Purchase of Former Covid-19 Shelter

Wed, 25 Feb 2026, 23:22 WIB | By Heryadi | Source: MEDIA_INDONESIA | Politics

The Head of the Nommensen Library, Rindu, urged for an independent investigative audit of the purchase of the former Covid-19 shelter by the Pematangsiantar City Government, which cost Rp14.53 billion and was funded from the 2025 Regional Budget (APBD).

This request came after the report from the Special Committee (Pansus) of the Pematangsiantar City DPRD on February 13, 2025, which revealed several serious findings, ranging from alleged procedural violations, the absence of a needs analysis, doubts about the independence of the Public Appraiser Service Agency (KJPP), weak internal controls, unreasonable prices, to indications of collusion, corruption, and nepotism (KKN).

Rindu regretted that the Pansus did not recommend an investigative audit by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) or the referral of the case to law enforcement agencies (APH).

“The report, which already mentions indications of KKN, should have triggered a legal escalation in the form of a thorough audit, an independent investigation, and referral to law enforcement. However, the recommendation was only to extend the term of the Pansus and collect additional documents. This situation raises public suspicion,” said Rindu on Wednesday (February 25).

According to him, if there are indeed indications of KKN, the logical follow-up is an independent audit and full transparency. “The language of the report is strong, but the action is weak. If there are indications of KKN, logically there should be an independent audit and political accountability,” he said.

He assessed that fiscal decentralization without strong supervision has the potential to trigger systemic deviations, including alleged price mark-ups in the purchase of assets worth Rp14.53 billion. Rindu also highlighted alleged manipulation of the needs analysis and the questionable independence of the appraisers.

PUBLIC DEMAND

This case, he continued, has become a public concern because it is part of the total budget for land procurement by the Pematangsiantar City Government of Rp22 billion in 2025. In addition to the former Covid-19 shelter, the city government also purchased land and buildings for several sub-district offices.

Based on the collected data, the purchases include the Sumber Jaya Sub-district Office worth Rp856 million, the Tambun Nabolon Sub-district Office worth Rp916 million, the Asuhan Sub-district Office with a land value of Rp2.13 billion and a building value of Rp115 million, and the Banjar Sub-district Office with a land value of Rp3.053 billion and a building value of Rp119 million.

“Of the Rp22 billion budget, Rp7.2 billion was for sub-district offices and has been paid on December 23, 2025. Meanwhile, Rp14.5 billion for the former shelter has been paid to the developer or the holder of the land use rights, namely Jony Lee. So the total amount paid by the City Government is Rp21.7 billion,” said Rindu.

He also revealed that, based on the Mayor of Pematangsiantar’s Decree Number 001/100.3.2.3/3421/VIII-2025 dated August 29, 2025, and the City Government’s explanation, one of the assets for the Banjar Sub-district Office is said to belong to the Chairman of the Pematangsiantar DPRD, Timbul Marganda Lingga. This situation is considered to have the potential to create a conflict of interest.

“How can the chairman supervise himself? This is an ethical violation. The public may suspect that the appraisal team is an instrument of legitimation,” he said.

Rindu asked the central government through the Ministry of Home Affairs to monitor the supervision of the APBD, and encourage the BPK and law enforcement agencies such as the KPK, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Police to investigate the allegations. Without an independent audit, he is concerned that the Pansus report will only become an archive without follow-up that has an impact on decreasing public trust in the DPRD and regional government administration. (E-2)

The Nommensen Library provides critical comments on the recommendations of the Special Committee (Pansus) of the Pematangsiantar City DPRD regarding the purchase of the former Covid-19 shelter.

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