The Ministry of Public Works (PU) has issued an official clarification regarding the circulation of an official document listing the names of the wife and child of Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo Lasmono in the planned working visit to New York, United States. Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Works, Apri Artoto, stated that the inclusion of the names was merely an administrative step to facilitate visa processing.
Apri explained that the list remains tentative and was prepared based on the possibility of accompaniment during the official trip. According to him, the ministry followed advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consolidate family visa applications into a single letter for more efficient and focused administrative processing.
Furthermore, Apri stressed that no State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) is being used for the minister's family's participation. He provided assurances that all accommodation and travel expenses for family members, if they end up attending, will be fully covered by personal funds. Additionally, the use of diplomatic passports for spouses of officials when accompanying official state duties was confirmed to comply with applicable regulations.
Regarding the agenda for the New York visit scheduled for July 13–19, 2026, the ministry emphasized that the trip has not yet been finalized. The Public Works Minister's primary focus remains prioritized on post-disaster handling, completing the public school program, and mitigating the domestic impacts of El Niño.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Public Works is currently conducting an internal investigation to trace the source of the leak of the document, which should have been confidential. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to imposing disciplinary sanctions on any internal personnel proven responsible for circulating the official letter to the public domain.
