NGOs commit to anticorruption drive<\/p>\n
ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Malang, East Java<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) Teten Masduki
\nproposed that both Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah issue
\nelection guides suggesting followers not to vote for legislative
\ncandidates and political parties with unclean track records.<\/p>\n
Teten said during the launch of a national anticorruption
\nmovement by the country's two largest Muslim organizations that
\nhe and other corruption watchdogs were ready to supply the
\nreligious groups with the records of legislative candidates.<\/p>\n
\"It's very important for both the NU and Muhammadiyah to issue
\na haram (forbidden under Islamic law) edict banning their
\nfollowers from voting for corrupt candidates and parties during
\nthe election. Otherwise, the legislative bodies will be filled
\nwith corruptors,\" Teten said, amid the cheers of thousands of
\nattendees.<\/p>\n
He said the ICW and other non-governmental organizations
\nsupporting a corruption-free election would screen legislative
\ncandidates for possible past involvement in corruption, collusion
\nand nepotism practices.<\/p>\n
\"The screening will reveal which politicians are dirty and
\nwhich ones are clean, and therefore deserves support,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Along with Teten, noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid was
\namong those invited to attend the launch of the national
\nanticorruption movement, as well as leaders of other religious
\ngroups, including Rev. Yewangoe of the Indonesian Communion of
\nChurches (PGI) and Bishop Hadi Wikarta of the Malang diocese.<\/p>\n
No government officials turned up for the event, although they
\nhad also received invitations. The government has been constantly
\ncriticized for its lack of political will in combating
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi dismissed Teten's demand, saying the
\nmovement was not targeting individual people or organizations.<\/p>\n
\"Our movement does not deal with individuals, as we aim at
\nfreeing Indonesia as a whole from corruption. We will encourage
\nlaw enforcers to take strict and indiscriminate measures against
\nthose involved in corruption,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To support the movement, clerical members of NU and
\nMuhammadiyah will be asked to highlight the danger of corruption
\nin their sermons.<\/p>\n
\"We will also ask for support from churches, so that our
\ncampaign can reach more people and will belong to the entire
\nnation,\" Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Maarif called on the government
\nand law enforcers to heed the anticorruption campaign.<\/p>\n
\"Otherwise, the country will move closer to the brink of
\ncollapse,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He agreed to suggestions that state officials and employees be
\ngiven salary increases, but said the measure would not curb
\ncorruption if tough law enforcement was not applied.<\/p>\n
\"We can emulate China in enforcing the law against
\ncorruptors,\" Syafii said.<\/p>\n
Under Chinese law, corruption charges carry a maximum death
\nsentence.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish, meanwhile, asked the anticorruption champions to
\ndevelop a common definition of corruption.<\/p>\n
\"A government official who owns a company is not categorized
\nas a corruptor (in Indonesia), but in developed countries he or
\nshe is, by all means, a corruptor,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Muslim scholar Abdul Munir Mulkhan had warned of the
\ndifficulties in defining corruption. In daily practice among
\nMuslims, corruption is a minor sin that could become a good deed
\nif some of the stolen money is donated to orphanages or mosques.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ngos-commit-to-anticorruption-drive-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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