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.