Kwik backs away from corruption remark<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nexecutive Kwik Kian Gie said Thursday that he was wrong to label
\nthe party as the most corrupt of the country's political parties.<\/p>\n
Kwik said his statement was a connotation in nature which was
\nnot based on any calculation, and therefore it was wrong.<\/p>\n
\"I was told that I was wrong (in naming the party as the most
\ncorrupt),\" Kwik said after a meeting with President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, in her capacity as PDI Perjuangan chairwoman, at
\nthe State Palace on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Kwik created shock waves on Monday when he said that PDI
\nPerjuangan was the most corrupt party in the country, and that
\nthis would lead to the ousting of the party in the 2004
\nelections.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan is one of the many parties founded in the wake
\nof the reform movement that deposed former president Soeharto in
\nMay 1998.<\/p>\n
His remark drew opposition from other senior party members,
\nincluding First Gentleman Taufik Kiemas, Minister of Manpower and
\nTransmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea and State Minister for State
\nEnterprises Laksamana Sukardi, who even asked for Kwik's
\nresignation.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, however, Jacob, Kwik and Laksamana held a press
\nconference after a Cabinet meeting at the State Palace. Megawati
\nasked to meet the three after the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"We talked about the issue for about 10 minutes, and it has
\nbeen settled,\" said Kwik.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Megawati did not comment much, Kwik said.<\/p>\n
\"It seems that she knew the problem before we brought it to
\nher.\"<\/p>\n
Jacob said PDI Perjuangan members must bear Kwik's criticisms,
\nbecause Megawati has a close relationship with Kwik and
\nconsidered him an important figure of PDI Perjuangan.<\/p>\n
\"However, she said that Pak Kwik must use 'mild words' to
\ncriticize the party,\" he said<\/p>\n
Kwik, the State Minister of National Development Planning,
\nhowever, said that he would remain critical of the party and the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\"However, I have to be more careful,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Semarang branch of PDI Perjuangan demanded on
\nThursday that the party central executive board dismiss Kwik
\nbecause his statement could cause popular unrest and damage the
\nparty's image.<\/p>\n
The party expected to discuss about Kwik during a meeting next
\nweek, the party's secretary general Sutjipto said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kwik-backs-away-from-corruption-remark-1447893297",
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