PDIP Comments on Malang Regent Appointing His Son as Head of Environmental Agency
PDIP Central Executive Board Chairman Deddy Sitorus has responded to Malang Regent M Sanusi’s inauguration of his son Ahmad Dzulfikar Nurrahman as Head of the Environmental Agency. Deddy Sitorus stated that everyone has equal rights to hold a position as long as it does not violate applicable mechanisms.
“Anyone has equal rights to occupy a position, provided they meet all administrative prerequisites and requirements for technical competence, mentality, knowledge, and through the applicable procedures and mechanisms,” said Deddy Sitorus to reporters on Friday (17/4/2026).
Deddy assessed that a position would be incorrect if it contradicts existing rules. Deddy Sitorus acknowledged that the inauguration of the Malang Regent’s son would face accusations of nepotism.
“What is not allowed is if the position is obtained due to family relations, cronyism, and abuse of power in ways that contradict the rules and mechanisms in place,” said Deddy.
“Indeed, ethically, it will be difficult to avoid nepotism accusations, so it may need to be accounted for and properly audited,” he added.
This member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission II views that if the mechanism followed is correct, it is not good to obstruct someone’s rights. Deddy allows the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) to the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (KemenPAN RB) to check the validity of the Malang Regent’s son’s inauguration process.
“But if everything is in accordance with norms and rules, it is unfair to obstruct someone’s rights obtained through the existing mechanisms. So, please let it be examined by the competent authorities such as BKN or KemenPAN RB,” he said.
Malang Regent M Sanusi is known to have inaugurated 447 officials in the Malang Regency Government environment. One of them is Ahmad Dzulfikar Nurrahman, the Regent’s biological son, who was inaugurated as Head of the Environmental Agency.
The inauguration ceremony for high-level leadership positions (JPTP), administrators, supervisors, to functional positions took place solemnly at the Grand Pendopo of Malang Regency on Monday (13/4).
In addition to Dzulfikar, Sanusi inaugurated three other echelon II officials, namely Nurrahman as Head of the Civil Service Police Unit, Sujarwo Ady Wijayanto as Head of the Community Empowerment and Village Agency, and Astri Lutfiatunnisa, who serves as Head of the Industry and Trade Agency.
In his remarks, Regent Sanusi emphasised that this mutation and inauguration is a strategic step to strengthen good governance. He asked all newly inaugurated officials to uphold the integrity pact that has been sworn.
“This is part of the Malang Regency Government’s commitment to implementing a civil service management system in good governance,” said Sanusi in his speech, quoted from detikJatim.