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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

Indonesian Minister's Family Travel to US Sparks Criticism

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Indonesian Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo is criticized for including family members in an overseas official trip to the US.
  • A public policy expert argues this reflects a problematic mentality among elites who misuse public office.
  • The ministry claims family members were included for visa administration and their expenses would be personally funded, but critics argue state facilities extend beyond direct financial costs.

Indonesian Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo faces criticism for allegedly bringing family members on an official trip to the United States. The inclusion of his wife and daughter in the delegation for the High-Level Meeting on The Midterm Review of The New Urban Agenda in New York has sparked debate about the ethical conduct of public officials.

In a presidential system, the behavior of ministers is a reflection of the president's leadership.

— Achmad Nur HidayatA public policy expert, commenting on the implications of ministerial conduct.

Achmad Nur Hidayat, a public policy expert from Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, slammed the practice, attributing it to a "mentality of elites" who treat public office as a source of personal privilege. "Public office should make someone more careful, not more at ease," Achmad stated, emphasizing that the behavior of ministers reflects the leadership of the president in a presidential system.

Public office should make someone more careful, not more at ease.

— Achmad Nur HidayatA public policy expert, criticizing the perceived misuse of official positions.

In response, the Ministry of Public Works' Secretary General, Apri Artoto, clarified that the family members were listed in the delegation for administrative purposes related to visa processing. He asserted that their travel expenses would not be covered by the state budget, stating, "There is no use of the state budget for family financing or personal interests. It will be personally funded."

There is no use of the state budget for family financing or personal interests. It will be personally funded.

— Apri ArtotoSecretary General of the Ministry of Public Works, addressing the funding of family members' travel.

However, Achmad remains unconvinced, arguing that the claim of not using state funds overlooks the broader definition of state facilities. He explained that these facilities can include "letters, access, priority, services, diplomatic relations, protocols, or the reputation of the position," all of which are public resources not available to ordinary citizens. Given the Ministry of Public Works' substantial budget of Rp 118.5 trillion for infrastructure development, Achmad stressed that these resources should be managed strictly for public benefit.

State facilities can be in the form of letters, access, priority, services, diplomatic relations, protocols, or the reputation of the position.

— Achmad Nur HidayatA public policy expert, explaining the broader definition of state facilities beyond direct financial costs.
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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