Jakarta - The Cilegon case needs to be seen as a whole in the context of the efforts of the government and all stakeholders to maintain the investment climate in Indonesia and drive the local economy. If only seen partially, the same problem could be repeated in the future. Therefore, the main problem also needs to be considered and resolved. Economic development needs to involve all parties, including local economic actors in accordance with the spirit of Indonesia Incorporated echoed by the President of Indonesia.

Kadin is firm against its members who carry out extortion and various actions that hamper investment. Kadin condemns various acts of thuggery in any name. The legal steps taken by the Banten Police to bring Kadin members to court are fully supported by Kadin Indonesia while reminding the importance of the presumption of innocence.

Kadin members who are suspects have been deactivated and the central Kadin will immediately appoint an acting chairman of Kadin Cilegon. Kadin will observe the legal process until there is a final court decision. ‘This is a form of Kadin's firmness in maintaining the dignity of the organisation which is a partner of the government,’ said Kadin Indonesia Chairman Anindya Novyan Bakrie, Sunday (18/05/2025).

Kadin reminded all Kadin administrators and members in all provinces and regencies to comply with organisational rules. ‘In the future, Kadin members who carry out intimidation, extortion, extortion, and the like, will be immediately deactivated,’ said Anindya.

So far, thuggery on behalf of certain mass organisations has been one of the obstacles to investment, both foreign and domestic. Kadin urges the police to act decisively. There should be no omission and eliminate the impression that there are certain mass organisations that are protected by the Police and TNI.

However, Kadin also reminded that the factors that trigger unpleasant actions must be considered by all business actors and state administrators. Kadin as a government partner rejects and condemns all forms of intimidation and violence, but the triggering factors also need to be considered.

As reported, the Chairman of the Cilegon City Kadin, Muhammad Salim, was named a suspect on Friday (16/052025) night by investigators from the Sub-Directorate 1 Kamneg Ditreskrimum Banten Police. The police also named Deputy Chairman of the Cilegon City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ismatullah Ali and Chairman of the Cilegon City Fishermen's Association (HNSI) Rufaji Zahuri as suspects.

The three were named as suspects in the case of a request for a project to build a Chlor Alkali-Ethylene Dichloride (CA-EDC) plant owned by PT Chandra Asri Alkali (CAA), a subsidiary of PT Chandra Asri Pacific Tbk, in Cilegon, Banten. The CA-EDC plant was built with an investment value of Rp 15 trillion and is categorised as a national strategic project (PSN).

The Cilegon case cannot be generalised with cases of thuggery committed by a number of mass organisations. There is a background of events that needs to be seen and understood. ‘This is not a defence at all, but the importance of all parties seeing the problem as a whole,’ Anindya explained.

As reported, the Chairman of the Cilegon City Kadin, Muhammad Salim, was named as a suspect on Friday (16/052025) night by investigators from Subdit 1 Kamneg Ditreskrimum Banten Police. At the same time, investigators also named Deputy Chairman of the Cilegon City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ismatullah Ali and Chairman of the Cilegon City Fishermen's Association (HNSI) Rufaji Zahuri as suspects. On Friday (09/05/2025), the three suspects went to the office of PT China Chengda Engineering Co.Ltd (CCE), the main contractor of the CAA construction to ask about the promises that had been given. However, during the discussion there was miscommunication and a scene that seemed intimidating and ‘extortion’, so it entered the realm of law.

The three suspects, who are businessmen from Cilegon, Banten, hoped that they would be involved in the construction of the CAA as subcontractors or suppliers of goods. At a meeting on 22 April 2025 at the Cilegon Chamber of Commerce, it was agreed that CCE would notify the work items. However, when the suspects checked in the field, construction was already underway. This fact prompted the three suspects to visit CCE's office on Friday (09/05/2025).