KPK Issues SP3 for Late Kalimantan Timur Governor Awang Faroek Ishak
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has announced that it will issue a Letter of Termination of Investigation (SP3) regarding the late Kalimantan Timur Governor, Awang Faroek Ishak, who passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2024. Awang, a prominent figure in Indonesian politics, had previously been summoned for questioning by the KPK in connection with alleged corruption involving mining business licenses (IUP) in East Kalimantan.
KPK spokesperson Tessa Mahardhika Sugiarto extended condolences to the family of the late governor, stating, "KPK joins the nation in mourning the loss of Awang Faroek Ishak. We hope that his family will find strength during this difficult time." Tessa added that following receipt of Awang’s death certificate and administrative processing, KPK would publish the SP3, effectively closing the investigation against him.
About Awang Faroek Ishak
Awang Faroek Ishak, a veteran politician and former governor of Kalimantan Timur, served two terms from 2008 until 2018. Born on January 31, 1948, in Tenggarong, he was the 11th of 13 siblings and the son of Awang Ishak and Dayang Johariah, a renowned public servant in East Kalimantan. Awang Faroek was 76 years old at the time of his death.
During his life, Awang Faroek was married to Ence Amelia Suharni, and together they had three children: Awang Ferdian Hidayat, Dayang Donna Walfiares Tania, and Awang Fauzan Rahman. Awang Faroek completed his primary education in Tarakan, followed by secondary and high school in Tenggarong. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from IKIP Malang in 1973, a Master of Management degree in 1997, and a Master of National Resilience from the University of Indonesia in 1998. Awang Faroek was also a distinguished alumnus of SESPANAS (1990) and KRA LEMHANAS (1992).
As an academic, Awang Faroek taught at the University of Mulawarman and the University of Seventeen August 1945 in Samarinda, and was granted an honorary professorship by Victoria University, Melbourne. His career in civil service began as a staff member of the Kalimantan Timur Governor’s Office in 1973. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Mulawarman from 1982 to 1985, and as a member of the People’s Representative Council/Regional Representative Council (DPR/MPR RI) for two terms from 1987 to 1997. Awang Faroek also served as the Chairman of the Regional Development Planning Board (Bapedalda) of Kalimantan Timur and the Regent of Kutai Timur for two terms from 2000 to 2008.
During his tenure as governor, Awang Faroek led the province alongside Farid Wadjdy in the first term and HM Mukmin Faisyal in the second term, implementing various development programs that transformed the region. In 2002, the Attorney General’s Office named Awang Faroek Ishak, then serving as Regent of Kutai Timur, as a suspect in a case involving the embezzlement of state funds worth IDR 576 billion.
After completing his term as governor in September 2018, Awang Faroek reflected on his administration’s achievements, emphasizing long-term development projects such as railway infrastructure to improve the well-being of the East Kalimantan population.
On Monday, September 23, 2018, the Corruption Eradication Commission conducted a raid at Awang Faroek’s residence. Beginning at 8:00 PM WITA and concluding at 12:45 AM WITA, the search lasted approximately five hours. Following the raid, KPK Director of Investigation Asep Guntur Rahayu revealed that documents related to mining business licenses in East Kalimantan were discovered, suggesting potential violations during Awang Faroek’s governorship from 2008 to 2018.
On Thursday, October 24, 2018, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Awang Faroek concerning allegations of corruption involving the issuance of mining business licenses (IUP) in East Kalimantan. In addition to Awang Faroek, eight other witnesses, including Dayang Donna Walfiares Tania (DDW), Secretary of the Kutai Kartanegara Mining and Energy Office in 2010, Abdul Rahman (AR), Head of the Archives and Expedition Division from 2010 to 2016, Asyuri (A), and the Head of the Kutai Kartanegara Youth and Sports Office in 2016, Awang Ilham (AI), were also summoned for questioning.