KPK to learn from China's antigraft drive: Chief<\/p>\n
Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post\/Beijing<\/p>\n
Top officials from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
\nhave traveled with the President to China to find out how the
\nAsian giant has successfully fought corruption.<\/p>\n
"China has been widely known for taking harsh measures against
\ncorruption, including by making 100 coffins (in advance for any
\nstate official found guilty of corruption); one of them for the
\nprime minister. It's a good move. Hopefully, I can learn
\nsomething from their action against graft," KPK chairman
\nTaufiqurrahman said at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing
\nhere on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Taufiqurrahman is part of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's
\nentourage that is on a four-day visit to China. Susilo's main
\nmission is to follow up the strategic partnership he signed with
\nChinese President Hu Jintao in Jakarta in April.<\/p>\n
"It's amazing how China, which used to be notorious for its
\nwidespread corruption more than a decade ago, has turned into a
\ncountry which has a tremendous economic growth as well as a good
\ncivil society," Taufiqurrahman said.<\/p>\n
"How can investment come into our country if there's no
\npolitical will to fight corruption and uphold the law? How can we
\ndevelop infrastructure projects in the absence of this will?"<\/p>\n
The KPK had yet to do enough, Taufiqurrahman said.<\/p>\n
"But once the anticorruption drive gets into top gear, I
\nexpect the police, the Attorney General's Office, the courts, tax
\noffices, customs and excise and local governments to follow
\nsuit."<\/p>\n
Susilo told the Indonesian community who live in China on
\nWednesday that the country needed to a turn over a new leaf.<\/p>\n
Taufiqurrahman, meanwhile, acknowledged that the desire to
\nfight corruption in the country remained low and said much of
\nwhat politicians and officials said about cracking down on graft
\nwas merely lip service.<\/p>\n
To improve its competitiveness in the region, Indonesia needed
\nto learn from neighboring countries like China, Malaysia and Hong
\nKong about how to fight corruption, he said.<\/p>\n
"I have urged all regents, mayors, governors and ministers as
\nwell as director generals and judges to show (in actions) their
\nstrong determination to fight corruption," he said.<\/p>\n
"People can not wait for another 20 years. We have been
\nsuffering for seven years from a economic crisis worsened by
\ngraft."<\/p>\n
International research institutions have regularly ranked
\nIndonesia as one of the world's most corrupt countries, with
\ngraft common in the bureaucracy, legislature, law enforcement and
\nthe judiciary.<\/p>\n
Fighting corruption has been one of Susilo's top priorities
\nsince he assumed power last October and many state officials have
\nalready been jailed or investigated for graft.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpk-to-learn-from-chinas-antigraft-drive-chief-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}