West Java Chamber of Commerce Caretaker Replacement Legality Questioned in Court

The legality of the replacement of the caretaker of the West Java Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) has come under scrutiny in a court case, with a witness testifying that the decree used as a basis for the replacement was never discussed. During a lawsuit at the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday, September 8, a witness presented by the plaintiff stated that they had never known or received Decree Number 198 (SK 198), which served as the foundation for replacing Agung Suryamal. Ali Sa'id, identified as the Deputy General Chair for Facilities, Infrastructure, and Business of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, testified that SK 198, intended to replace SK 030 (an extension decree for caretaker chairman Agung Suryamal until October 2025), had never been deliberated in the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Daily Board Meeting (RPH). Sa'id further stated that the RPH on November 5, 2024, also did not discuss the issuance of SK 198. He admitted to not being aware of the letter's existence, despite serving as the deputy caretaker chairman under Suryamal. The testimony sparked a debate between the plaintiff's lawyer, Roy Sianipar, and Aziz Syamsudin, the lawyer for the General Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anindya Bakrie. Syamsudin argued that organizational decisions could be deemed valid if meetings were attended by 50 percent plus one manager, in accordance with the organization's Articles of Association (AD/ART). However, Sianipar countered by referencing Sa'id's statement that SK 198 had never been discussed in the RPH. Another witness, Koswara, a Special Member of the West Java Chamber of Commerce, also affirmed that he had never received any notification or copy of the decree for the replacement of the caretaker. Both Ali Sa'id and Koswara asserted that Agung Suryamal remained the legitimate caretaker of the West Java Chamber of Commerce. Consequently, they deemed the West Java Chamber of Commerce's General Conference (Muprov) held in Bandung by Suryamal's faction as legitimate, while the Muprov held in Bogor by caretaker Taufan Eko Nugroho faced organizational issues. Following the trial, Roy Sianipar stated that the witness testimonies supported the grounds for his lawsuit, which questioned the Muprov in Bogor and the selection of Almer Faiq Rusidy as the Chairman of the West Java Chamber of Commerce. This statement represents the plaintiffs' and witnesses' position in the ongoing case. The panel of judges has yet to issue a ruling on the legality of the two Muprovs. The dispute originated from the simultaneous holding of two Muprov VIII Kadin West Java events on September 24, 2025. The Bandung Muprov elected Nizar Sungkar, while the Bogor Muprov elected Almer Faiq Rusidy. The lawsuit is registered under number 1356/Pdt.G/2025/PN JKT.SEL. The next hearing is scheduled for September 15, 2026, with the agenda of hearing an expert witness from the defendant.