Tasked by Prabowo to Clean Up, Hanggodo Criticises Public Works Ministry as 'Wet'

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo has spoken candidly about indications of a deep state targeting him, stating that this proves President Prabowo Subianto’s mentions of a deep state are not mere fabrications. He added that the deep state exists in all lines of government, particularly in the Public Works Ministry. This was revealed during a conversation with journalists on Sunday (29/3/2026), when he mentioned that on that Sunday morning, he had just read the draft book report regarding alleged budget deviations in the Public Works Ministry. As is known, this case follows indications of a Rp1 trillion state loss uncovered in the Audit Board’s Examination Results Report (LHP BPK). The two officials are the Director-General of Water Resources (SDA) and the Director-General of Human Settlements. Before receiving the draft book report version, Dody Hanggodo admitted he only got a 2-3 page report in PowerPoint form. He said there was something odd in that report, so he then requested the full version, namely the book report. However, Dody Hanggodo was puzzled again because the draft book report actually pointed towards auditing the Public Works Minister, not the budget deviation case. Even though there was evidence, he said, the report did not show matters of adultery, affairs, let alone criminal acts of corruption (tipikor) related to the budget deviation case. “Well, this is actually what Pak Prabowo keeps mentioning, the deep state. I’m hit by the deep state here. In my personal opinion, yes, this is personal because it’s subjective, actually the one being audited is me. So in the book report, it’s the Public Works Minister being audited. Official travel, everything audited is the Public Works Minister. So not auditing the two Director-Generals, no,” he said, quoted on Monday (30/3/2026). If he hadn’t requested the report in full book form, he said, that report could be used to hammer him with a corruption case. “I’m hit now. This is me being hit. If that draft comes out. The draft comes out, then it will hammer me with corruption. So as if I’m the one who’s corrupt. As if. Even though initially the order was for those two Director-Generals. But no. Not at all. The content of the draft hammers me,” he continued, unable to hold back his anger. “So I’m confused, why me? Luckily I asked for the book. If not, we wouldn’t know what happened. Because initially I was given just the draft. PowerPoint draft. Just two, three pages. But I was a bit suspicious of the draft. I was shocked,” he said. Nevertheless, Dody Hanggodo emphasised that he will still investigate the draft book report further. To find out the true intent of the report, as it is still in draft form. “Frankly, I just want to confirm that what Pak Prabowo Subianto said is very, very true. The deep state exists in all governments, especially Public Works,” he stressed. Also, he added, untouchable Director-Generals are real. “There are. This is proof. Crystal clear proof. I read that book report and was stunned,” he snapped. For this reason, Dody Hanggodo is determined to carry out a clean-up in the Public Works Ministry environment. However, he admitted it’s not easy. Especially with his position managing budgets worth hundreds of trillions of rupiah that must benefit from Aceh to Papua. Therefore, he borrowed the term calling the Public Works Ministry a ‘wet’ ministry, which proves to be true. “This is the proof. It’s comfortable once it’s wet, right. We start cleaning up the problem, again there it is, like that. Luckily I’m of sufficient age. Already 60 years old. And have experience everywhere. So it’s a big job, personally, as someone trusted by the President to clean up the Public Works government. And the challenge is extremely not easy,” he said. “That has to be very, very maximal. For example, I’ve already principled. Whatever is poured for any development. Must be able to provide benefits to society. 110 percent of it, not 10 percent, not 50 percent. No. But 110 percent of it,” Dody Hanggodo asserted firmly. Therefore, when asked if he would report it to the police regarding the report, he admitted he couldn’t do so immediately because what he read was just a draft report. Dody Hanggodo also does not see it as a political scenario. “Politics, no. That’s from the deep state earlier. Wet ministry. If it’s already a wet ministry, then all sorts of things happen,” he said. “I’m also attacked from everywhere. Because sometimes I like to boldly reshuffle my team. Because I like to be bold. That’s scolded by many people too,” he said. To address this issue, he admitted to having proposed names to join the Audit Committee that will be activated by President Prabowo Subianto. Including as part of cleaning up the Public Works Ministry. “Actually the problem is that. The problem is, my broom isn’t 100% clean. The bristles are still dirty. These dirty bristles are trying to block me. That’s it. I just laugh it off. Let it be. But because this involves big people, I have to report to the President. Pak Presiden doesn’t mess around; if you’ve picked pockets, then you have to face all the risks, right?,” he stressed. “So far it’s been a different story, right? What I know, maybe I’m wrong, if I’m wrong, I apologise. But as far as I know, if the ones at fault are echelon 1, echelon 2, the ones framed are the lower ones. So, pity those below, actually. I don’t want it like that anymore. Instead, if the ones at fault, well, let’s go in first, like that,” said Dody Hanggodo.