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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

Indonesian Lawmaker Backs Donating Electric Motorcycles to Teachers, Cites Procurement Flaws

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A member of Indonesia's parliament supports donating electric motorcycles, initially bought for a nutrition program, to honorarium-based teachers.
  • The legislator criticizes the procurement process, citing a lack of transparency and potential price inflation.
  • The donation aims to ensure the state-funded assets benefit the community, despite concerns about their initial suitability.

A senior Indonesian legislator has backed a plan to donate electric motorcycles, originally purchased for a nutrition program's operations, to honorarium-based teachers across various regions. Yahya Zaini, Deputy Speaker of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR), stated his support for the donation, viewing it as a way to ensure state assets provide public benefit.

When we met with Commission IX, Mrs. Arumsari said the electric motorcycles would be donated to honorarium teachers in the regions. And I agree with that plan.

— Yahya ZainiDeputy Speaker of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) explaining his support for the donation plan.

"When we met with Commission IX, Mrs. Arumsari said the electric motorcycles would be donated to honorarium teachers in the regions. And I agree with that plan," Yahya said in an official statement. However, his support came with strong criticism regarding the procurement process for the vehicles, which he deemed problematic.

Yahya, a politician from the Golkar Party, revealed he disagreed with the purchase of the electric motorcycles for the nutrition program's operational needs from the outset. He argued the vehicles were unsuitable for the program's staff, stating, "They do not need mobility in their work." He also highlighted the lack of information provided to Commission IX about the procurement, hindering the DPR's oversight function on the budget's use.

They do not need mobility in their work.

— Yahya ZainiCriticizing the suitability of the electric motorcycles for the nutrition program's staff.

Further concerns were raised about the selection of the supplier. Yahya alleged the winning company lacked an adequate dealer network and after-sales service. "The procurement company is unprofessional, it doesn't have dealers or service centers," he stated, adding suspicions of price inflation in the acquisition. "What is most regrettable is that the price was marked up."

Commission IX never received a report or information regarding the procurement of these electric motorcycles.

— Yahya ZainiHighlighting the lack of transparency in the procurement process.

Tempo has sought confirmation from the spokesperson for the nutrition program, Agustina Arumsari, regarding the donation plan. As of this report, Arum had not responded. Previously, when questioned about the electric motorcycles on June 18, Arum mentioned that all procurements from 2025 were being reviewed for maximum utilization, noting that some processes were still with the prosecutor's office. She emphasized the program's commitment to avoiding wasteful spending and improving budget efficiency.

The procurement company is unprofessional, it doesn't have dealers or service centers.

— Yahya ZainiExpressing concerns about the supplier's capabilities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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