Pekalongan Regent Admits Not Understanding Bureaucracy Because of Former Dangdut Singer Background

The Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) disclosed that Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq (FAR) told investigators that she did not know the rules for procurement of goods and services because of her background as a former dangdut or pedangdut singer.

‘In the intensive examination conducted, FAR explained that she has a background as a musician, not a bureaucrat. This is what Ms. FAR said,’ said Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Enforcement and Execution at the KPK, at the Merah Putih Building of the KPK, Jakarta, Wednesday, 4 March 2026.

Furthermore, Asep said that the singer of the song ‘Cik Cik Bum Bum’ contradicted the principle of presumption iuris de iure or the theory of legal fiction.

‘FAR has served as Regent or state administrator for two terms, and once as Deputy Regent from 2011-2016, thus FAR should understand the implementation of good governance principles in the regional government,’ he said.

Earlier, on 3 March 2026, the KPK announced a series of arrests during Ramadan month and described it as the seventh OTT this year.

The KPK said it arrested Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq together with aides and trusted aides in the Semarang area, Central Java.

Subsequently, the KPK announced the arrest of 11 other individuals from Pekalongan, Central Java.

On 4 March 2026, the KPK named Fadia Arafiq as the sole suspect in a case of alleged corruption related to outsourcing services or labour hire, and other procurements within the Pekalongan Regency government for the 2023-2026 financial year. (Ant)