PONTIANAK, thekabarnews.com—The West Kalimantan High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Kalbar) has agreed to cancel a proposed Rp19.1 billion building grant. This decision followed public criticism over the project’s urgency and use of regional funds.

Kejati Kalbar head Emilwan Ridwan announced the decision on Wednesday, August 26, after meeting representatives of Barisan Pemuda Melayu West Kalimantan.

The organization had questioned whether the provincial administration should be spending its time on the project. Communities still lacked roads, bridges and other key infrastructure, which raised concerns.

“As a demonstration of our commitment to the public interest, transparency and public benefit, Kejati Kalbar will return the proposed building grant to the West Kalimantan provincial government,” Emilwan said.

He said the provincial government could redirect the support toward urgent public needs in compliance with applicable laws.

The project appeared in West Kalimantan’s electronic procurement system under the title “Construction of the Kejati Kalbar Parking Building.” It was listed under tender code 10154150000.

The provincial Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR Kalbar) managed the procurement through the 2026 regional budget.

Procurement records placed the project’s budget ceiling and owner’s estimate at Rp19.1 billion. PT Aneka Tata Sarana had reportedly won the tender with a final negotiated value of about Rp19.015 billion.

However, Kejati Kalbar’s announcement alone does not formally cancel a tender executed by the provincial Public Works Agency.

The provincial administration and procurement officials must complete all tender-cancellation, contractual and budget-reallocation procedures.

The available procurement information had not confirmed the completion of those administrative steps when this report was prepared.

Emilwan said Kejati Kalbar first requested infrastructure assistance in 2023. The proposal entered the 2026 budget after passing through planning, review, and administrative stages. He rejected the description of the building as exclusively a parking facility.

According to Emilwan, the proposal also included additional public-service space. It offered a health clinic for employees and members of the public.

“The application reflected the organization’s genuine needs, particularly to improve public services, provide healthcare or clinical facilities and create a more suitable parking area,” he said.

The ground floor would have accommodated vehicles belonging to employees and visitors, reducing parking along roads and around service areas.

Emilwan maintained that regional governments may provide grants to central-government units operating within their jurisdictions.

He cited Article 62 of Government Regulation No. 12/2019 and Home Affairs Ministerial Regulation No. 77/2020.

Article 62 of Government Regulation No. 12/2019 permits regional grants to central and other eligible institutions. However, it requires governments to consider fairness, appropriateness, rationality, public benefit and regional fiscal capacity after prioritizing mandatory public services.

Kejati Kalbar said it respected public criticism as part of democratic oversight. In addition, it would use the controversy to strengthen transparency and accountability.

The provincial administration had not publicly detailed where it would redirect the Rp19.1 billion allocation. It also had not provided the timetable for formally ending the procurement when this article was completed.