Social Ministry Procurement Officials Relieved of Duties Over People's School Procurement Issues
Two officials heading units under the General Bureau of the Social Ministry’s Secretariat General have been temporarily relieved of their duties following an evaluation of procurement policies for goods and services in the People’s School programme. This was stated by Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf during a press conference at his office in Jakarta on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
“First, the Head of the Goods and Services Procurement Services Section. Second, the Head of the Equipment and State Property Subsection,” said Saifullah.
Gus Ipul, as he is known, stated that the two officials in the Social Ministry’s General Bureau are responsible for the ministry’s goods and services procurement services. These officials were appointed as Commitment Making Officials (PPK) for the Social Ministry’s goods and services procurement.
The temporary deactivation of these two officials, he said, was taken to ensure the smooth process of evaluation and investigation into the use of the budget allocated for the People’s School programme. Gus Ipul has formed a special team to delve deeper into the alleged maladministration, led by Deputy Social Minister Agus Jabo. “For the smoothness of the subsequent procurement process,” he said.
Gus Ipul also instructed Social Ministry Secretary General Robben Rico to immediately rationalise this year’s procurement budget. This includes strengthening the capacity of the goods and services procurement team and directly overseeing the implementation of those procurement policies.
In a separate opportunity, Social Ministry Secretary General Robben Rico denied that the temporary relief of the two officials was an attempt to find scapegoats. According to him, the two were temporarily relieved so they could focus on resolving the issues related to the procurement of goods for the People’s School.
He stated that they are prioritising the principle of presumption of innocence in following up on potential violations in goods and services procurement policies at the ministry. “So we actually feel sorry for them; it’s better if (the two) concentrate on fixing the current problems,” he said on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
The Social Ministry’s goods and services procurement for the People’s School programme is currently under scrutiny due to allegations of price inflation. This includes procurement of shoes and socks for People’s School students and teachers valued at Rp 28 billion, photo frames of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka worth Rp 4 billion, and stoves and washing machines worth Rp 7 billion.