PAN Central Board Takes Over NTB Chapter After Bupati LAZ Caught in KPK Sting
The Central Board of the National Mandate Party (DPP PAN) has immediately taken over the management of the party’s West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Regional Board after its Chairman, West Lombok Bupati Lalu Ahmad Zaini, was caught in a sting operation (OTT) by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Simultaneously, the DPP dismissed LAZ as Chairman of PAN NTB and revoked his status as a party cadre.
PAN Regional Coordinator for Bali Nusra, Muazzim Akbar, stated that following LAZ’s arrest, the DPP PAN dismissed him from all party positions. “His membership card has been revoked by the DPP. So he is no longer a PAN cadre,” Muazzim explained when contacted on Tuesday (21/7/2026).
According to Muazzim, the management of the NTB DPW will temporarily be run by the DPP until a letter appointing an acting chairman is issued. “As it happens, I am a DPP administrator and also the Bali Nusra Regional Coordinator, so I will run the daily operations,” said the member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives.
Muazzim also confirmed that PAN will not provide legal assistance to LAZ after his dismissal from the party. “The point is that we do not provide any legal assistance to cadres who are caught, as we now know,” said the former Chairman of PAN NTB.
He urged all PAN cadres in the region to take the case that ensnared LAZ as a lesson. The appointment of an acting Chairman for PAN NTB is still awaiting a decision from the central board. “We are waiting for the letter of appointment for the acting chairman from the centre. Who is the replacement candidate? Definitely a PAN person in NTB,” Muazzim stressed.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of PAN NTB Syamsurih admitted that his party is still waiting for direction from the DPP following LAZ’s arrest by the KPK. “Responding to the news about the Chairman being detained by the KPK, we are still waiting for direction and instructions from the DPP PAN,” Syamsurih said when confirmed.
He stated that the NTB DPW has coordinated and conveyed information regarding LAZ’s arrest to the DPP. “We have already coordinated and conveyed it directly to the DPP,” he revealed.
Syamsurih also said he did not yet know whether the DPP would appoint a temporary official to lead the NTB DPW. According to him, all party mechanisms are under the authority of the DPP. “The party mechanism is regulated by and is the authority of the DPP,” said the Chairman of the Bima City DPRD.
He expressed concern over the issue that befell LAZ, especially since he had accompanied LAZ in internal party consolidation in the Bima and Dompu areas just a week prior. “I am very concerned. A week ago, I accompanied him for internal party consolidation in Bima and Dompu,” he explained.
LAZ was one of the parties caught in the KPK sting operation. A total of 19 people were detained, and LAZ was taken to the KPK building on Monday (20/7) evening. The KPK has named suspects in the case, but the anti-corruption agency has not yet revealed the identities of the suspects or the construction of the case. “Regarding the covert investigation activities in the West Lombok Regency area, an expose was held last night and it was decided that this case has proceeded to the investigation stage,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo.