Law enforcers told not to weaken battle against graft
Law enforcers told not to weaken battle against graft
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned on Monday
representatives from graft-busting bodies in the country not to
weaken their fight against corruption and pledged the government
would remain focused on the issue, despite the country's
worsening economic situation.
The President met with Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh,
the head of the government's special anti-graft team Hendarman
Supandji, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman
Taufikurrahman Ruki, along with representatives from the police
and the National Ombudsman's Commission to discuss the progress
made in resolving graft cases.
"The President reminded us that the corruption eradication
drive must go on, although the country is now facing economic
problems," Abdul Rahman said after the meeting.
Getting tough on corruption was one of Susilo's 2004 election
campaign promises.
Ruki said the anti-corruption drive must continue as there
were people "whose hearts are made from stone," who still dared
to steal tax payers' money, smuggle subsidized fuel out of the
country and commit other forms of graft.
The rupiah plunged to a four-year low recently, with investors
concerned about the impact of high international oil prices on
the state budget, which is heavily burdened by expensive fuel
subsidies.
Observers recently voiced fears that the government would be
distracted from it's corruption drive by the rupiah's woes and
the financial markets demands it make tough political decisions
like raising fuel prices and reshuffling the Cabinet.
After the meeting, Abdul Rahman said he had reported to the
President the developments of investigations into several
corruption cases, such as the graft case at the Ministry of
Religious Affairs, and a timber smuggling case involving a
Croatian vessel.
Rahman said he told the president the case involving the
religious ministry, in which former minister Said Agil Hussein
Al-Munawar is allegedly involved, would be sent to a district
court for trial next week.