PRIME NEWS POST
The INDONESIAN (Madina) — Alleged irregularities in the Accelerated Stunting Reduction Program budget in Mandailing Natal Regency returned to public attention on Monday, 15 June 2026.
Tameng Perjuangan Rakyat Anti‑Korupsi (Tamperak), a civil society organisation, is urging the North Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office to publicly and transparently update progress in handling the case, which concerns billions of rupiah allocated in fiscal years 2022–2023.
The call follows Tamperak’s formal submission of reports and supporting data to the High Prosecutor’s Office and the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia, detailing alleged misuse of funds in the programme — a matter long watched closely by residents of Mandailing Natal.
Muhammad Yakub Lubis, Chairman of Tamperak’s Mandailing Natal Chapter, emphasised that the public has a right to clarity on the case’s status.
“Legal certainty belongs to the people. Matters that touch broad public interests must not be left unresolved or unclear,” he said. Citizens deserve to know whether the allegations are still under investigation, have been concluded, or have been discontinued.
Yakub stressed that stunting‑programme funding is far from an ordinary administrative matter: it is a national priority aimed at improving children’s health and safeguarding the nation’s future generations from impaired growth and development.
Yet despite substantial government funding, implementation effectiveness and budget use have become subjects of public debate. Many have questioned transparency in programme management across regions — including Mandailing Natal.
Concerns are not unfounded. During a plenary session of the Mandailing Natal Regional House of Representatives reviewing the 2023 Accountability Report, the House Budget Committee formally requested the Regency Inspectorate to conduct a special audit into stunting‑fund management. The measure was intended to ensure transparency and accountability, going beyond routine administrative checks.
KPK Has Previously Flagged Stunting Programmes as High‑Risk
Nationally, the Corruption Eradication Commission has repeatedly warned that stunting interventions are among the sectors most vulnerable to corruption risks — spanning planning, budgeting, procurement, implementation, and field oversight.
Tamperak argues that such allegations require serious attention, given the direct impact on vulnerable communities and children as primary beneficiaries.
Yakub noted that prolonged uncertainty fuels speculation. “The harm lies not only if wrongdoing occurred — but also in eroded public trust when the process itself lacks clarity,” he said.
Tamperak Upholds Presumption of Innocence
While pressing for transparency, Tamperak stated it respects the presumption of innocence and does not intend to prejudge anyone. However, openness must accompany legal proceedings: if inquiries find no criminal elements, that outcome should be publicly explained. Conversely, if indications of unlawful acts and state‑financial loss emerge, the process must proceed professionally, transparently, and without favour.
The group also recalled the Attorney‑General’s instruction to all prosecution units to act boldly in major corruption cases with wide‑ranging social impact — highly relevant here, given the programme’s strategic national standing, large budget, and direct reach to vulnerable groups.
“The prosecution service is the last line of public trust in anti‑corruption efforts. We expect the High Prosecutor’s Office to lead in uncovering this matter fully and openly,” Yakub said.
Commitment to Monitor the Case to Conclusion
Tamperak pledged to continue submitting additional field‑verified data, documents, and information to law‑enforcement and oversight bodies. For the organisation, the issue is not merely about financial administration — it is about accountability for public funds meant to protect children from irreversible harm. Every rupiah must be clearly accounted for.
Tamperak urged that the investigation be carried through to completion, so the people of Mandailing Natal receive clear legal certainty.
(E)
Reported from various media sources //photo from Google documents // contribution by Prime News Post international online media // news.paper
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