NTB Governor Responds After Electric Vehicle Project Reported to Prosecutors
The Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, has broken his silence over a public report alleging irregularities in the rental of 72 electric vehicles by the NTB provincial government in the 2026 fiscal year. The project, worth tens of billions of rupiah, is currently under investigation by the NTB High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati).
According to Iqbal, the entire procurement process for the electric vehicles was carried out in accordance with lawful administrative procedures. Iqbal responded calmly and said he would let the legal process at the NTB Kejati proceed.
“The electric cars have been purchased, and thank God they went through a procedure fully compliant with the administrative procedures that apply. God willing, there is nothing untoward in this electric car issue,” said Iqbal when met in Mataram on Wednesday (8 July 2026).
Iqbal viewed the report as the right of every citizen. However, he guaranteed that the NTB provincial government had breached no regulations in the procurement of the electric vehicles.
“Anyone is free to file a report, but what matters is that we have fulfilled all the procedures required. The intention was good, the method was good, the objective was good, and it is done,” Iqbal added.
NTB provincial government spokesperson Ahsanul Khalik confirmed that the government would cooperate with the legal process under way at the NTB Kejati. Nevertheless, the man affectionately known as Aka urged all parties not to rush to judge the policy before an official result emerges from the NTB Kejati.
“We hope the handling of this public report can proceed in full, without being influenced by opinion-building that could lead to trial by the press,” said Aka.
Aka explained that the migration of official vehicles to battery-based electric vehicles was not a stealth project. The policy, he continued, was a direct instruction from the central government via Presidential Instruction Number 7 of 2022 and had been incorporated into the official NTB Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) 2025-2029.
On the other hand, Aka did not deny a striking shift in the budgeting process. In the 2026 regional budget draft, the NTB provincial government allocated a capital expenditure scheme (outright purchase) of Rp 8.25 billion.
However, during deliberations on the 2026 regional budget draft, the scheme was changed entirely to a vehicle rental service, on the grounds of long-term asset management efficiency. As a result of the rental scheme change, the budget allocation jumped dramatically to Rp 14.9 billion.
After going through e-purchasing in the Electronic Catalogue and negotiations, the contract value was locked at Rp 14.7 billion. “The contract is not merely for the provision of vehicles, but a comprehensive rental service,” said Aka.
Aka explained that the Rp 14.7 billion value covered the rental of 72 electric cars. The rental package is complete with taxes, vehicle registration documents (STNK), risk insurance, maintenance, spare parts, replacement vehicles in case of breakdown, and charging installation.
Interestingly, before the report surfaced at the Kejati, the NTB provincial government had carried out an emergency manoeuvre after consulting the Inspectorate and the NTB office of the Finance and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). The provincial government executed a swift contract addendum on 13 April 2026. The rental duration, originally set at a full 12 months, was cut to just 9 months and 23 days.
“So the contract value fell (from Rp 14.7 billion) to Rp 12 billion. The payment mechanism for the charging facility for official vehicles was also changed from a flat system to one based on actual usage,” added Aka, who also heads the NTB Communication, Informatics and Statistics Office.
Investigated by the NTB Kejati
Earlier, the NTB Kejati investigated an alleged corruption case in the rental of electric cars within the NTB provincial government worth Rp 14 billion. The electric cars were used as official vehicles in a number of regional apparatus organisations (OPD).
The investigation was based on a public report, received by the NTB Kejati on 2 June 2026, with letter number 006/NTWP/B/V/2026.
The Assistant for Special Crimes (Aspidsus) at the NTB Kejati, Muh Zulkifli Said, did not deny that the report had been received. “Yes, it has,” Zulkifli said briefly on Tuesday (30 June).
According to the information gathered, a number of witnesses have been examined in connection with the case, including the company involved in providing the electric cars.
However, Zulkifli declined to comment in detail on the witness examinations, saying only that the report was still being studied and reviewed. “We are delving into it first,” he added.