TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The acts of thuggery carried out by several mass organizations (ormas) have caused harm to various groups, including entrepreneurs. In addition, individuals acting in the name of mass organizations often engage in extortion, which is considered to hinder the entry of investors into Indonesia.
The phenomenon of mass organizations impeding investment was stated by the General Chairperson of Himpunan Kawasan Industri (HKI), Sanny Iskandar. He stated that the losses incurred due to failed investments could reach hundreds of trillions of rupiah. Investors flee because they face many mass organizations that insist on being included in the development process or factory activities.
"Their modus operandi includes staging demonstrations and various other actions to close off areas, preventing the factories from going out, materials from coming in, raw materials from entering, and finished goods from leaving," Sanny said in Jakarta on Thursday, February 6, 2025, as quoted from Antara. So, what are the cases of mass organizations extorting companies?
PT Chandra Asri Alkali in Cilegon
A video showing several business organizations allegedly demanding a share of a project went viral on social media since Friday, May 9, 2025. They visited the foreign investor PT Chandra Asri Alkali (CAA) in the Krakatau Steel industrial area in Cilegon, Banten.
Someone in the video stated that the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) together with the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi), along with other local entrepreneurs, wanted to be involved in a project worth Rp 15 trillion. There was also a statement from a local entrepreneur who did not want to be a mere spectator and requested a share of Rp 5 trillion.
The Chairman of Kadin Indonesia, Anindya Novyan Bakrie, stated that they had formed a verification team to resolve the alleged extortion issue. He did not want the community or investors in Cilegon to be disturbed by a group of people claiming to represent their organizations.
"We are moving quickly here," Anindya said at Tempo Scan Tower, South Jakarta, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
BYD Factory in Subang
Vice Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Eddy Soeparno stated that mass organizations had disrupted the construction of the electric vehicle factory from China, BYD, in Subang, West Java. He mentioned this during his visit to the BYD factory in China.
"There were issues related to premanisme, mass organizations disrupting the development of BYD facilities. I think the regional government needs to take firm action on this. Investors entering Indonesia should be guaranteed security," said Eddy in his post on Instagram @eddy_soeparno, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. However, he did not specify the acts of premanisme he referred to.
Mass Organizations in Tangerang Requesting Eid Allowances
A request for religious holiday allowances circulated on social media platforms such as Twitter, under a letterhead from the Community Empowerment Agency (LPM) of Bitung Jaya Village. The organization, located in the Cikupa District, Tangerang Regency, was suspected of asking for Eid allowances from companies in the surrounding area.
The letter dated March 5, 2025, stated a request for Eid allowance funds with Eid al-Fitr 1446 Hijriah approaching. The letter was signed by the Chair of LPM Bitung Jaya Village, A. Jayadi, and Secretary Agus Rika.
"We ask companies and entrepreneurs in our vicinity to kindly provide Eid allowances. We will gladly accept any amount given," Jayadi wrote in the letter.
Mass Organizations in Depok Requesting Lebaran Security Funds
Proposals or requests for contributions from mass organizations have been rife in Depok, West Java, leading up to Eid 2025. The letters contained requests for assistance in distributing takjil (sweet snacks), aid for flood victims, and security for Eid al-Fitr.
One entrepreneur in Kemiri Muka Village, Beji District, Depok, mentioned that his employee received the letters on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. "I know of two proposals supposedly from mass organizations, claiming to be for Eid security and aid for flood victims," said the entrepreneur, DW, who declined to disclose his identity, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
The funding requests were printed on mass organization letterheads and included the secretariat's address, accompanied by the signatures of the chair and secretary. "It also included a budget breakdown for shirts, skullcaps, and rice, with a total budget of over Rp 13 million," DW said.
Although the requested amount was not stated, DW continued, proposals from mass organizations are often received near Eid. These mass organizations have no contribution to the community, especially in the vicinity of his business.
"Regarding security, we have security from the community, paying every month, and it's clear, with people patrolling every night. As for these [mass organizations], they only appear when submitting proposals," said DW.
He admitted that he was worried that not giving contributions would have a negative impact on his business. "Not to have negative suspicions, but my friend's business premises did not give contributions and ended up quarreling and experiencing theft, but not in Depok," DW said.
The 'Champion' of Cikiwul in Bantargebang
The Chairman of the Community Empowerment Institution (LSM) for the Movement of the Underprivileged in Indonesia (GMBI) Bantargebang, Suhada, along with three of his colleagues, A, D, and M, visited a factory in Bantargebang, Bekasi City, West Java, to request Eid allowances last March. The man who claimed to be a 'champion' in Cikiwul was involved in a confrontation with the company's security personnel because the money received was not what he had hoped for.
"I am the champion leading Cikiwul. I have a large number of followers here. If I block the road in front, nothing can move," Suhada said in a video uploaded to the @infobekasi Instagram account on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
After his video went viral, Suhada was eventually named a suspect for making threats. He was charged under Article 335 of the Criminal Code (KUHP).
"The maximum criminal threat is 9 years imprisonment," said the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Unit (Kasat Reskrim) of the Bekasi Metropolitan Police (Polres Metro Bekasi) Commissioner Police (Kompol) Binsar Hatorangan Sianturi at a press conference at the Bekasi Metropolitan Police on Friday, March 21, 2025.
Yudono Yanuar, Oyuk Ivani S, Angelina Tiara Puspitalova, Hammam Izzuddin, Han Revanda, Ricky Juliansyah, Adi Warsono, Amelia Rahima Sari, Ricky Juliansyah, Joniansyah, Anastasya Lavenia Y, and Alif Ilham Fajriadi contributed to the writing of this article.
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