In early May 2025, social media, particularly the X platform, was abuzz with a 19-second video showing a man wearing a black cap and a brown leather jacket tipping a female performer with a stack of Rp100,000 bills at a nightclub, Ambyar Super Club MAG in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. The man was alleged to be Ahmad Yani Renuat, the Mayor of Tual, Maluku. The video, initially uploaded by the Instagram account @tante.rempong.official, was later amplified by Imayati Kalean, a prominent Tual figure, via her TikTok account @immakalean, sparking widespread controversy among netizens.
Timeline of Events
The video, reportedly recorded on April 29, 2025, depicts the man believed to be Ahmad Yani Renuat dancing while tipping a performer, identified as DJ Una, accompanied by music at the nightclub. The footage shows him alongside others, including an alleged journalist who was also dancing and giving a thumbs-up. Imayati Kalean, who reposted the video, firmly stated that the man was the Tual Mayor and deemed his actions inappropriate for a public official in a culturally and religiously conservative city like Tual.
In response to the video’s virality, Ahmad Yani Renuat issued a strong denial. He initially suggested the footage might be old but, after reviewing it, insisted the man was not him. He threatened legal action against those spreading the video, including Imayati Kalean, accusing them of defamation and violating Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law. Yani appointed a lawyer to file a police report with the Tual Police Department, with plans to escalate to the Maluku Regional Police if necessary.
Imayati Kalean, however, stood her ground. She challenged the legal threats, expressing readiness to face any lawsuits and even considering reporting Ahmad Yani to the Minister of Home Affairs for breaching bureaucratic ethics. Imayati reported receiving online harassment, including threats via WhatsApp voice notes demanding she remove the video from TikTok. She clarified that her criticism was not personal but a reminder for the Mayor to uphold integrity as a leader.
Public and Government Reactions
The controversy elicited varied responses on X. Some netizens harshly criticized the behavior shown in the video, viewing it as tarnishing Tual’s image as a religious city. A post on X by @kompascom highlighted Imayati’s statement that the actions contradicted Tual’s cultural and religious values. Others questioned the video’s authenticity, with some of Ahmad Yani’s supporters claiming it was edited or old footage.
Maluku Governor Hendrik Lewerissa weighed in, contacting Ahmad Yani to verify the video’s authenticity and urging a thorough investigation. Hendrik noted that the video did not depict immoral acts but emphasized the need to confirm whether the incident occurred before or during Ahmad Yani’s tenure. He also advised regional leaders in Maluku to be cautious in maintaining their public image in the digital age.
Impact and Criticism
This controversy underscores the issue of public officials’ ethics in Indonesia, particularly in the social media era, where personal actions can quickly become public scrutiny. Imayati Kalean argued that tipping at a nightclub, while possibly acceptable to some, was inappropriate for a mayor, especially one who has performed the Hajj pilgrimage. She also suggested that the act could violate President Prabowo Subianto’s budget efficiency policies.
Ahmad Yani defended himself, stating that tipping performers is common in nightlife venues, whether male or female, and regretted that the video was linked to him without solid evidence. However, his statements failed to quell criticism, given his role as a public figure expected to set an example.
Conclusion
The viral video case serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and ethics for public officials, especially in the digital era where information spreads rapidly. While Ahmad Yani Renuat insists the man in the video is not him, the public awaits the results of verification and any legal proceedings. The controversy has sparked discussions about the boundaries between personal life and public responsibility, as well as the role of social media in shaping public perception.
