From medical expenses to debt repayment?!
By Cantika Wulan - UNISSULA
Muhammad Agus Salim, who recently went viral on Indonesian social media, is a victim of an acid attack in West Jakarta. Agus, a café worker in the Green Lake residential area of Cengkareng, suffered this tragic incident when he was attacked by a colleague. Public attention was drawn to the case after Agus received a donation of 1.5 billion rupiah for his medical treatment. However, controversy has since arisen over alleged misuse of the funds, raising questions about transparency and accountability in the management of these donations.
On Sunday night, September 1, 2024, Muhammad Agus Salim was attacked with acid near a small shop on Nusa Indah Street, Duri Kosambi, Cengkareng, West Java. At the time, Agus was riding a motorcycle with his wife on their way home from work. CCTV footage shows the assailant, identified as Aji, following them on a motorcycle and throwing acid at Agus’s face before turning around. Bystanders who witnessed the incident quickly stepped in to help, dousing Agus with water to ease the pain caused by the acid burns on his body.
After Agus’s acid attack case went viral, he met with Pratiwi Noviyanthi and received a donation of 1.5 billion rupiah from Noviyanthi’s foundation to cover his medical expenses. However, it was revealed that before receiving the full 1.5 billion rupiah, Noviyanthi initially received information from Agus’s representatives that the collected donations totaled 500 million rupiah. Later, she was informed that the donation amount had grown to 1.5 billion rupiah. This sudden increase surprised her, as she had been told just recently that the donation was only 500 million rupiah. In a post on her YouTube channel, Noviyanthi expressed concerns, suspecting misuse of the funds. She suspected that Agus may have used the donation money for personal purposes, including sharing it with his family members.
The first issue concerns the use of BPJS health insurance for Agus’s treatment. Initially, it was planned for BPJS to cover his medical costs. However, when administrative complications arose, Agus’s family claimed they had to fight for full access. Although BPJS typically covers most medical expenses, certain costs were not covered, forcing them to seek additional funds. This decision to rely on BPJS puzzled some people, who questioned why the 1.5 billion rupiah in donations was not immediately used for Agus’s treatment, rather than delaying with BPJS. According to the YouTube channel Curhat Bang by Denny Sumargo, it was clarified that Agus’s family had not yet received the foundation's donation when he was first admitted to the hospital on September 4, as Noviyanthi’s support only arrived on September 12. Consequently, Agus’s family opted to use BPJS initially.
Secondly, there was controversy surrounding the use of donations to pay off debts. This aspect drew particular attention, as some of the donation funds were used to settle personal debts. According to Agus’s representatives, part of the donations went towards repaying a 98 million rupiah debt to his aunt, known as Wawa. Additionally, he transferred 250 million rupiah to his wife and 100 million rupiah to his sibling. Agus’s family claimed that these debts were paid as a way to assist relatives, but this decision sparked negative public reactions. Many believed the donations should have been strictly allocated for Agus’s medical expenses, not for paying off debts or unrelated personal matters. Several parties, including Noviyanthi—who was entrusted with overseeing the donations—expressed disappointment, as the funds were intended solely for Agus’s health needs.
Thirdly, regarding the role of the foundation, In response to the controversy, management of the donations for Agus was ultimately transferred to Pratiwi Noviyanthi’s foundation, aiming to provide better oversight. Although this step was intended to ensure more transparent financial management, it has left a trace of public mistrust. Many believe that the donation management should have been handled by an official organization from the outset, to ensure that every rupiah received was allocated strictly for Agus’s medical expenses and essential living needs.
In Agus’s viral case, it was not only the tragedy of the acid attack that captured public attention but also the controversy surrounding the management of donated funds. Although donations totaling 1.5 billion rupiah were raised, the decision to use BPJS and pay off debts sparked public criticism, as these actions were seen as diverging from the original purpose of the donations. Ultimately, Pratiwi Noviyanthi’s foundation assumed control over the donation oversight to ensure transparency. This incident highlights the importance of accountable management of charitable funds, as it maintains public trust and ensures that aid reaches those in need effectively.
