Thursday, 03 September 2026
BANDA ACEH | INDATANEWS.COM - Former Aceh Provincial Government Secretary M. Nasir Syamaun, through his lawyers, has rejected allegations that he demanded and received a fee of 20 to 25 percent from disaster-related projects funded through Regional Transfer (TKD) allocations.
M. Nasir Syamaun's lawyers from Fadjri and Partners law firm said the allegation was baseless and lacked a clear factual basis. They also described a report filed with the Aceh Provincial Prosecutor's Office on August 26, 2026, under information number 2026-A-03564, as defamatory and potentially damaging to their client's reputation."The report has no basis whatsoever and constitutes defamation aimed at damaging the reputation of our client, M. Nasir Syamaun. We will take legal action and report the complainant, who claims to be acting on behalf of disaster victims," the lawyers said in a written statement obtained by the editorial team.
The lawyers called on the person who made the allegations to substantiate all claims with verifiable facts and credible evidence. They stressed that the law must not be misused as a tool to pursue particular interests."The complainant must be able to prove these allegations. In the legal interests of our client, we will therefore take legal action to ensure that defamatory statements and attacks on our client's reputation do not occur again in the future," the lawyers said.
The lawyers explained M. Nasir Syamaun's position during his tenure as Secretary of the Aceh Provincial Government. According to their explanation, the position does not have a direct connection with the implementation of budget funds that are the subject of the report.
They referred to Government Regulation No. 12 of 2019 concerning Regional Financial Management. Under the regulation, the provincial government secretary serves as the coordinator of regional financial management. In this capacity, the secretary performs coordinating functions and is not directly responsible for the implementation, disbursement or settlement of funds for individual activities or projects.The lawyers also referred to Aceh Qanun No. 3 of 2024 concerning the Financial Management of Aceh. Under the regulation, authority over Aceh's financial management rests with the governor.
The governor then delegates certain authorities to the provincial government secretary as coordinator of Aceh's financial management, the Head of the Aceh Financial Management Agency (BPKA) as the official responsible for Aceh's financial management (PPKA) and simultaneously as Aceh's General Treasurer (BUA), as well as the heads of the respective provincial government work units (SKPA) as Budget Users (PA).Under this structure, the relevant agency heads or SKPA officials have the authority to implement the budget for their respective activities. According to the lawyers, this also includes the use of disaster relief funds and the financing of post-disaster projects.
The head of an SKPA may delegate certain authorities to the Authorized Budget User (KPA), the Technical Activity Officer (PPTK), and the Financial Administration Officer (PPK) within the respective SKPA."Therefore, the technical and administrative responsibility for the disbursement and use of project funds rests with the relevant agency head, not with the provincial government secretary, whose role is coordinating in nature," the lawyers said.
Based on these explanations, the lawyers said the allegation linking M. Nasir Syamaun directly to the alleged acceptance of project fees or potential misuse of project funds was unfounded.They also suspected that the report had been deliberately prepared and circulated to pursue certain objectives. The lawyers described the allegations as an attempt to personally discredit M. Nasir Syamaun.
In their written statement, the lawyers also said they had previously taken legal action against an individual over alleged defamation and reputational harm against M. Nasir Syamaun.
According to the lawyers, the case is currently at the trial stage before the Banda Aceh District Court. The case is registered under docket number 92/Pid.B/2026/PN Bna."We believe that certain individuals are currently deliberately attempting to attack the Aceh Government through false allegations," the lawyers said.
They said the circulation of various allegations and insulting statements across several social media platforms had created unrest among the people of Aceh. In their view, such developments could not only damage the image of the Aceh Government but also undermine public trust in the government.The lawyers also described the dissemination of inaccurate information concerning the management of disaster relief funds as a potentially far-reaching problem. In their view, such information could affect the confidence of other regional governments in the Aceh Government, particularly in relation to the management of disaster assistance provided to address emergencies and support post-disaster reconstruction.
To provide an overview of the management of disaster funds, the lawyers subsequently presented several details concerning the sources and actual use of budgetary funds that, according to their account, were related to disaster assistance in Aceh.The Aceh Government transferred the funds directly in 2025 to the accounts of regencies and municipalities affected by disasters. The remaining funds, according to the lawyers, were disbursed in January 2026.
In addition to assistance from other regional governments, the Aceh Government also allocated Rp80,973,612,274.24 in unforeseen expenditure (BTT). The funds came from several sources, including Rp20 billion in support from the President.The lawyers said the Aceh Government had reported the actual use of the funds to the President through Letter No. 900.1/669 dated January 19, 2026.
The presentation of the sources, allocation and actual use of the funds, according to the lawyers, was intended to give the public a more comprehensive picture of how budgetary funds for disaster assistance in Aceh were managed.They also stressed that the information was intended to provide the public, particularly the people of Aceh, with balanced information in response to allegations linking M. Nasir Syamaun to the alleged demand for and acceptance of a fee from disaster-related projects.
The lawyers hope the public will assess the case based on facts, the applicable mechanisms governing regional financial management and legally credible evidence, rather than relying solely on allegations circulated publicly or through social media. (IDNC)REPORTER: Adli Safwan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
/home/u7391150/public_html/indatanews.com/theme/function.php on line 28
