PRIME NEWS POST

The INDONESIAN (North Sumatra) — Allegations of irregularities in the management and use of the 2025 Health Operational Assistance (BOK) budget in Mandailing Natal (Madina) Regency have once again come under public scrutiny.

Misron Saidi Batubara, widely known as Ade Batubara, a North Sumatran youth leader and activist, has called on the North Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Sumut) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the handling of the 2025 BOK funds in Madina.

According to Ade, the probe must not be limited to administrative reviews or examining accountability documents alone. Law enforcement authorities need to trace the entire budget cycle: from planning, disbursement, distribution, utilization, and reporting, all the way to the benefits received by the public.

Ade specifically requested Kejati Sumut to summon and question the former Head of the Madina Regency Health Office, related program officials and managers, treasurers, and all heads of community health centers (puskesmas) involved in implementing the 2025 BOK program.

“We urge Kejati Sumut to immediately summon and question the former Head of the Madina Regency Health Office and all puskesmas heads associated with the management and implementation of the 2025 BOK budget. Do not just scratch the surface. If deductions are suspected, the trail must be followed completely—from the budget source to the final recipients and users,” Ade Batubara stated firmly on Saturday (22/8/2026).

Alleged Deductions Must Be Proven Transparently

Ade emphasized that reports of alleged deductions or levies on BOK funds should not be taken as fact until verified through a legitimate investigative process.

Nevertheless, he noted that such reports serve as a valid entry point for authorities to conduct clarification, verification, document reviews, and fund flow tracing.

He called for all puskesmas heads who received or managed activities funded by the 2025 BOK to be examined proportionally, to identify whether a consistent pattern or mechanism exists across disbursement, use, reporting, and implementation.

“If no deductions occurred, an investigation will clear the names of those who may have been unfairly implicated. But if evidence of deductions or levies is found, those responsible must be prosecuted under the law. No one is above scrutiny, and no one should be exempt,” he said.

Read : North Sumatra Activist Ade Batubara Highlights Rp5.18 Billion 2025 BOK Budget at Madina Health Office, Calls for Full Audit of Medicine and Sanitation Kit Procurement

Ade stressed that he does not intend to judge or accuse any party of a criminal offense.

He argued that all circulating claims should remain allegations until law enforcement establishes sufficient facts and evidence.

“What we advocate is investigation—not a verdict. We want everything uncovered based on documents, witness statements, interviews with relevant parties, and facts on the ground,” he asserted.

Do Not Only Review Accountability Reports; Verify On-Site Implementation

Ade also urged Kejati Sumut not to rely solely on Activity Accountability Reports (SPJ).

He stated that BOK fund reviews must be comprehensive, comparing administrative documents against actual field conditions.

Key documents and aspects to trace include activity planning records, budget disbursements, bank accounts, transaction and payment receipts, SPJs, implementation reports, procurement of goods and services, and program realization at each puskesmas.

Field verification, Ade added, is essential to confirm whether activities listed in reports were actually carried out and whether the budget truly benefited the community.

“Do not look only at the SPJ. If an activity is reported as completed on paper, verify that it actually happened: who participated, how much it cost, what outputs were delivered, and whether the public truly benefited,” he said.

Health Budgets Must Be Rigorously Oversighted

The focus on Madina’s BOK funds stems from their role as part of the government’s support for public health services.

BOK funds are a financing mechanism tied to the operations and delivery of various health services.

Because they originate from public funds and serve the public interest, their management must uphold transparency, accountability, effectiveness, and compliance with applicable regulations.

Ade argued that every rupiah of the health budget must be publicly accountable.

“This is public money, and its use directly impacts the community. BOK is not a budget that can be treated like private funds or burdened with obligations outside the rules. If anyone is requesting, deducting, or levying part of these funds, it must be clear who is doing it, on what authority, how much, and for what purpose,” he said.

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Previously, Ade had also highlighted the 2025 BOK budget management at the Madina Regency Health Office, valued at approximately Rp5.18 billion, including several expenditure components related to basic health services and the procurement of health support needs.

He noted that this figure reinforces the need for oversight and audits to assess the reasonableness of budget planning, implementation, and reporting.

Ade encouraged law enforcement to conduct comprehensive audits and tracing, rather than merely checking for the presence or absence of alleged deductions.

The investigation, he said, should examine potential patterns of non-compliant budget management, including mismatches between planning and realization, payments versus goods or services received, and administrative reports versus actual implementation.

He also asked authorities to trace parties with decision-making authority over BOK fund management, both at the health office and puskesmas levels.

“We request a thorough and objective investigation. Examine the former health chief, related officials, program managers, treasurers, and involved puskesmas heads. There must be no selective enforcement,” he said.

According to Ade, a comprehensive investigation is essential to ensure legal certainty for all parties.

If no violations are found, the results can serve as clarification and restore the reputations of those previously named.

Conversely, if irregularities are uncovered, law enforcement must take action in accordance with laws and regulations.

Ade expressed hope that Kejati Sumut would respond to public concerns with concrete, professional steps.

He emphasized that the call for an investigation is not intended to find fault or build narratives to corner specific individuals.

“We are not asking for anyone to be punished before guilt is proven. We are asking for the legal process to run: investigate, clarify, audit, and uncover the facts based on evidence. If clean, tell the public there were no violations. If violations are found, prosecute according to the law,” Ade stated firmly.

In his view, transparency and professionalism among law enforcement protect officials and budget managers who operate by the rules.

Simultaneously, they assure the public that funds allocated to the health sector are being used as intended.

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Ade also invited the people of Madina Regency to oversee health budget use while prioritizing verifiable data, facts, and accountable information.

He cautioned the public against spreading unproven allegations, while remaining active in reporting credible information or findings to law enforcement and relevant oversight bodies.

“Public oversight is important. But it must be based on data and facts. The public should not get trapped in unsubstantiated accusations,” he said.

Ade views public oversight of public funds as a critical component of building transparent and accountable governance.

“The public has the right to know whether state money allocated for health actually reaches and benefits the people. Budgets meant to strengthen health services should not create new problems,” he said.

In closing, Ade reiterated that the call for investigation is an act of social control and concern for state financial governance.

“We leave the proof to law enforcement. All we ask is one thing: let nothing be covered up, and let there be no selective enforcement. Uncover everything based on evidence and applicable law,” Ade Batubara concluded.

Transparency in health budgeting is not merely an administrative issue it is part of the state’s accountability to its people. Every rupiah of public budget must be accounted for, monitored, and guaranteed to deliver real benefits to the community.