Chromebook Prices Approved by LKPP, Not Nadiem

The pricing of Chromebook laptops for the Ministry of Education’s e-Catalog was proposed by vendors and approved by the Government Procurement Policy Agency (LKPP). 

Jakarta, February 2, 2026. Nadiem Makarim had neither the authority or involvement in the Chromebook laptops procurement process for the Ministry of Education’s e-Catalog, including selection of vendors or pricing. Under Indonesia’s government procurement regulations, a Minister’s role is limited to setting policy direction and overseeing budget utilization. The technical procurement process is conducted through the Ministry of Education’s e-Catalog mechanism, which is administered by the Government Procurement Policy Agency (LKPP). This mechanism does not allow a Minister to issue instructions, appoint specific vendors and influence procurement pricing. These facts were disclosed during a subsequent evidentiary hearing, at which six witnesses were presented by the Public Prosecutor. 

The Chromebook laptop procurement process was conducted in line with applicable procedures, in which vendors’ price proposals were subject to technical specifications verification and compliance with prevailing regulations. The process involved several rounds of negotiations carried out through the Ministry of Education’s e-Catalog system, prior to approval by the Government Procurement Policy Agency (LKPP), under the coordination of the Directorate General of Early Childhood, Primary, and Secondary Education (PAUD Dikdasmen). 

The final Chromebook prices listed in the Ministry of Education’s e-Catalog were determined based on the principles of efficiency and best value for the state. Approved prices ranged between IDR 5.7 million and IDR 5.8 million per unit, inclusive of a one-time Chrome Device Management (CDM) fee, and were in compliance with the minimum 25% Domestic Component Level (TKDN) requirement. 

Dr. Dodi S. Abdulkadir, BSc., S.E., S.H., M.H., representing Nadiem Makarim’s Legal Defense Team, stated that the mechanism for determining Chromebook prices was entirely governed by a lawful and measurable procurement system. “The prices listed in the Ministry of Education’s e-Catalog were the result of a technical process and negotiations conducted in accordance with applicable regulations by LKPP. There were no instructions, directives, or interventions by Nadiem Makarim, as there is no legally and procedurally mechanism that would allow him to appoint vendors or influence pricing. Hence, allegations of state financial losses due to price mark-ups are unfounded,” he said. 

In addition, Dr. Ari Yusuf Amir, S.H., M.H., who is also representing the Legal Defense Team, emphasized that the use of Chrome Device Management (CDM) did not result in inflated prices. “With or without CDM, Chromebook remain more cost-efficient than other alternative devices. This fact demonstrates that claims alleging CDM to have caused state

losses are baseless, and fail to establish any causal link to procurement pricing. On the contrary, the selection of Chromebook generated budget savings of approximately IDR 1.2 trillion. Had Windows-based devices been used, the state would have incurred licensing costs of USD 50–100 per unit, in addition to device management fees of USD 200–300 per unit over three years.” 

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