P2G Condemns School Uniform Corruption Case Involving Langkat Regent

The National Coordinator of the Education and Teachers Association (P2G), Satriwan Salim, has condemned the alleged corruption case involving school uniforms that has ensnared Langkat Regent Syah Afandin. Satriwan assessed that the case further harms parents amidst the already high cost of education. “We, as an education and teachers’ organisation, strongly condemn the corruption incident involving clothing, or school uniforms for elementary, junior high, and so on. This clearly harms parents at a time when education costs remain expensive,” Satriwan said in a statement on Sunday (5/7). He agreed that corruption remains a scourge in national education governance. Many regional heads exploit education budgets as a loophole for corruption. “It turns out the ones enjoying these uniforms are the regional heads who seize opportunities or niches for corruption from the uniform procurement,” he said. He encouraged the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Attorney General’s Office to continue monitoring procurement projects in the education sector and urged parents not to hesitate to report such practices. “Parents should not be afraid to report, because if there is corruption in education, how can we build character, integrity, and honesty,” he said. Satriwan urged law enforcement officials to take firm action against all parties involved in the case. “We urge law enforcement to be truly firm in handling this case, so that the substantial education budget can truly fulfil the rights of students and teachers to achieve quality learning,” he said. Afandin was previously caught in a sting operation on Thursday (2/7). During the silent operation, the KPK also found evidence of alleged criminal activity in the form of hundreds of millions of rupiah in cash. The evidence is suspected to be part of a project fee given by a private party to the regent. Afandin allegedly requested a fee or commission of 10 to 17 percent from partners for projects within the Langkat Regency Government. These projects were primarily under the Education Agency and the Housing and Settlement Agency. In addition to project bribes, the KPK also found evidence of other alleged gratuities worth IDR 3.5 billion, related to the transfer of positions within the Education Agency, the appointment of elementary and junior high school principals, and the procurement of elementary school uniforms.