Public Works Minister Exposes Rp 1 Trillion Scandal Behind Resignations of Two Director-Generals

JAKARTA – The darkness surrounding the sudden resignations of two Director-Generals (Dirjen) at the Ministry of Public Works (PU) has finally come to light.

Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo has disclosed evidence of suspected state losses reaching Rp 1 trillion that implicate top leadership at the Directorate General of Cipta Karya and Water Resources (SDA).

Responding to questions after inspecting mudik (exodus) route preparations in Semarang on Sunday (1 March 2026), the Public Works Minister emphasised that this measure forms part of a direct instruction from President Prabowo Subianto to cleanse the ministry of corruption.

Internal tensions at the Ministry of Public Works have actually been ongoing since early 2025. Hanggodo revealed that the Indonesian Financial Audit Board (BPK) had issued two stern warnings regarding budget irregularity findings.

A second letter was dispatched in August 2025. Although the loss figures decreased to approximately Rp 1 trillion, the BPK recommended establishing an ad hoc assembly and task force team to accelerate asset recovery.

The slow response from internal bureaucracy prompted Hanggodo to decide to take direct command of the cleanup operation.

The minister analogised the cleanup as cutting off the serpent’s head, not merely its tail.

He acknowledged his discomfort, noting that the “broom” he had been using—the Inspector General’s office—appeared not entirely clean.

“I cannot clean my house if my broom is dirty. I can see that not everything in the Inspector General’s office is clean either,” he stated.

He described the process as following consequences from preliminary audit data he personally presented to those involved.

“When I presented the preliminary data, they chose to resign. This aligns with the President’s direction: if you cannot clean up, resign or be forcibly removed,” he added.

Although reluctant to detail the modus operandi as the audit remains ongoing, the Public Works Minister ensured transparency by establishing a special team he termed the “clean broom.”

The team is strengthened by three personnel seconded directly from the Attorney General’s Office.