Nadiem Makarim, a Gojek founder and former Indonesian minister of education, culture, research, and technology, appeared at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta on August 7, 2025.

He was summoned to provide information as part of an ongoing investigation into the procurement of Google Cloud services by the ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nadiem arrived with his lawyer, Hotman Paris, and did not make any substantive comments to the media.

KPK is investigating the procurement of Google Cloud, which was used to support remote learning and data storage during online education in the pandemic.

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said the investigation is progressing, and urged all summoned parties to cooperate.

The procurement of Google Cloud coincided with the acquisition of Chromebooks for students and teachers to support online learning during school closures.

🔗 Source: Detik.com

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Indonesia’s procurement corruption pattern extends across multiple government sectors

The Google Cloud investigation reflects a broader systemic issue in Indonesian government procurement that has cost billions in public funds.

Corruption in public procurement is widespread across Indonesia, costing the government up to USD 4 billion annually according to anti-corruption assessments1.

Recent high-profile cases illustrate this pattern, including the e-KTP scandal that caused state losses of IDR 2.3 trillion from a project valued at IDR 5.9 trillion2.

Similar corruption has plagued other sectors, such as the energy industry where officials received bribes totaling IDR 4.8 billion related to a USD 900 million power plant project3.

The Google Cloud case during COVID-19 fits this established pattern of procurement irregularities spanning different ministries and project types, from identity cards to energy infrastructure.

2️⃣ Emergency procurement during crises creates heightened corruption vulnerabilities

The timing of the Google Cloud procurement during COVID-19 highlights how crisis situations can amplify existing corruption risks in government spending.