Stinging rebuke by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs to Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq after she admits she does not understand bureaucracy

Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq has been criticised by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya after she admitted not understanding bureaucracy because of her background as a dangdut singer, following her arrest by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Bima Arya said that local leaders are the highest-ranking officials within regional government. This must be understood with full responsibility by each local leader when in office, including Fadia.

“Local leaders are the highest leaders of regional government bureaucracy; not only must they master it but they must also control it and be fully responsible. This is what should be understood when deciding to become a local leader,” Bima Arya said, quoted on Friday, 6 March 2026.

According to Bima, local leaders who do not have a political background should be able to learn quickly. Not all matters should be handed over to the Regional Secretary (Sekda). “You cannot entrust everything to the Sekda, because the Sekda carries out instructions to coordinate policy as the senior-most bureaucrat,” he said.

Earlier reports indicated that the KPK disclosed that Regent Fadia Arafiq, while being questioned by the anti-corruption body, admitted not knowing procurement rules due to her background as a former singer or dangdut artist.

“In the intensive examination conducted, FAR stated that she has a background as a musician, not a bureaucrat. This is what Ms FAR said,” said KPK Deputy Head of Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at the Red and White Building of KPK, Jakarta, Wednesday, 4 March 2026.

Furthermore Asep said the testimony of the singer of the song “Cik Cik Bum Bum” contradicted the principle of presumptio iures de iure or the theory of legal fiction.

“FAR is a regent or state administrator for two terms, and has served as Vice Regent from 2011-2016, so FAR should understand the implementation of good governance in regional government,” he said.

Earlier, on 3 March 2026, KPK announced a series of arrests during Ramadan, also the seventh arrest this year. KPK said it arrested Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq along with aides and trusted associates in the Semarang area, Central Java.