KPK Urges Political Parties to Prioritise Integrity After Ex-Corruption Convict Joins PSI

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has reminded every political party to prioritise integrity and track records in their cadre recruitment processes. The statement was made in response to the admission by former Southeast Sulawesi Governor Nur Alam, a convicted corruption offender, that he has joined the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that political parties play a strategic role in producing leaders of integrity. Therefore, the recruitment and regeneration process must be conducted carefully, taking into account the candidates’ backgrounds. “We consider it important for every political party to apply the principles of prudence and due diligence in the recruitment of cadres and the filling of political positions, by conducting adequate tracing of the candidates’ track records, integrity, and legal compliance,” Budi said in a written message on Thursday (19/6).

Budi noted that, normatively, the KPK respects every citizen’s right to participate in politics in accordance with statutory provisions. However, for individuals who have been processed in corruption cases, their legal status must remain a concern. “Nevertheless, regarding parties who have been processed in criminal corruption cases, it is certainly necessary to also examine their legal status, including whether they are still undergoing conditional release or whether there is a court ruling that includes the revocation of political rights as an additional penalty,” he added.

Budi emphasised that the anti-corruption agenda does not rely solely on enforcement but also requires commitment from all elements of the nation, including political parties as pillars of democracy. He stressed that integrity and legal compliance must be primary considerations in every political decision-making process. “Political parties have a strategic role in ensuring that the regeneration process produces leaders of integrity, committed to clean governance, and capable of maintaining public trust in political institutions,” he asserted.

The KPK underscored that an anti-corruption culture must be built from the very beginning of the political recruitment process. This step is deemed crucial to ensure that efforts to realise a clean government can proceed sustainably.

Previously, Nur Alam announced he had joined PSI after visiting Solo and meeting with Indonesia’s 7th President, Joko Widodo, on Wednesday (17/6). Nur Alam claimed he had been de facto active in PSI for a long time, especially since Jokowi specifically provided considerable support to the party led by his son, Kaesang Pangarep. “To this day, as the former governor of Southeast Sulawesi, I have been good friends with Mr Jokowi since he was Governor of DKI Jakarta, and he was my superior,” Nur Alam said.

Nur Alam was released through a conditional release programme on 16 January 2024. He is undergoing conditional release under the supervision of the Bandung Class I Correctional Centre until 27 January 2029. According to the Supreme Court cassation ruling, Nur Alam’s sentence was reduced from 15 years to 12 years imprisonment, matching the initial verdict at the Central Jakarta District Court. He was also ordered to pay Rp2.7 billion in restitution and had his political rights revoked for five years. The ruling found Nur Alam guilty of corruption related to the approval of mining area reserves, exploration mining business permits, and the upgrade of permits to production operation mining business permits for PT Anugerah Harisma Barakah in Southeast Sulawesi from 2008 to 2014. He was also proven to have received gratuities during his two terms as governor, derived from nickel sales to Richcorp International Ltd through investments in AXA Mandiri, with the funds used to purchase insurance policies with periodic premiums of Rp20 billion per year.