JustUpdateOnline.com – JAKARTA, PT Rans Entertainment Indonesia Tbk (RANS) has officially addressed the findings released by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) concerning service contracts worth Rp14.69 billion involving two state ministries. In a formal statement issued on Tuesday (10/11), the media company asserted that all collaborative projects were conducted with high professional standards and followed transparent, accountable procurement protocols.
The controversy began when ICW highlighted eight specific procurement packages for influencer services managed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) for the 2024-2026 period. A major point of contention was a single Instagram Story post on the @raffinagita1717 account, which was valued at approximately Rp575.65 million.
In its detailed clarification, RANS broke down the total partnership value of Rp14,696,955,002. This figure encompasses one major initiative with the Ministry of Education totaling Rp3.9 billion and three separate campaigns with the Ministry of Marine Affairs worth Rp10.79 billion. The company maintained that these rates are consistent with their standard commercial rate card provided to all corporate clients.
Management further explained that the budget covers far more than just social media uploads. The fees include high-quality content production, travel expenses, logistics, the physical presence of influencers at events, off-air programming, and various promotional activities. RANS reported that these four campaigns resulted in over 150 unique outputs, garnering a cumulative total of more than 52.6 million views across digital platforms.
ICW Raises Concerns Over Procurement Integrity and Potential Conflicts
Earlier, ICW detailed five specific packages from the Ministry of Education in 2024. These included YouTube video placements worth Rp452.69 million, Instagram Reels at Rp205.89 million, TikTok content at Rp144.42 million, and event attendance services priced at Rp2.52 billion. Additionally, three contracts from the Ministry of Marine Affairs were each valued at roughly Rp3.6 billion.
Zararah Azhim Syah, a representative from ICW’s Investigation Division, questioned the procurement mechanism that specifically named certain social media accounts. ICW suggested this practice might indicate "spec-locking," a situation where job specifications are tailored to favor a specific provider, thereby stifling fair competition in government bidding.
Furthermore, ICW pointed to a potential conflict of interest involving Raffi Ahmad, who currently serves as the President’s Special Envoy for Youth Development and Creative Workers. Corporate records indicate that PT Rans Entertainment Indonesia holds a 99.1 percent stake in PT Rans Animasi Indonesia, with Raffi Ahmad acting as the primary shareholder of the parent firm.
These findings emerged as the government faces pressure to improve budget efficiency. ICW drew a sharp comparison, noting that the cost of one Instagram Story (Rp575.65 million) significantly exceeds the remaining village funds—estimated at Rp200 million to Rp300 million per village—following budget reallocations for 2026.
Company Assures Full Compliance with Regulations
In response to the allegations, RANS stated that the procurement process was handled through official government channels, including the Inaproc.id platform and the national e-catalogue. The company emphasized that every stage of the partnership adhered to the administrative, technical, and commercial requirements set by the respective government agencies.
The collaboration with the Ministry of Education was designed to revitalize and promote Indonesian museums. Meanwhile, the campaigns with the Ministry of Marine Affairs focused on educating the public about maritime potential, including the development of fishing villages and supporting infrastructure across various regions.
In a material fact report submitted on November 10, 2026, RANS concluded that this public scrutiny has not had a significant impact on the company’s legal standing, financial health, or day-to-day operations. While the company has justified its pricing and highlighted its massive digital reach, the response did not specifically address the "spec-locking" allegations raised by the anti-corruption watchdog.
