Low-key New Year celebrations: KPK

Low-key New Year celebrations: KPK

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has asked government
officials to tone down their New Year celebrations and instead
donate the money to the victims of the Aceh, Flores and Papua
disasters.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the KPK said state
officials should not celebrate the New Year "extravagantly" after
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced three days of
mourning for the people of Aceh.

"Instead, (officials) should use the money to help victims of
the natural disasters ... through the Red Cross or other
respected social organizations," the commission said.

All officials should live frugally it said, as was stipulated
in a recent presidential instruction, and not misuse money from
their state budgets.

Many of Indonesia's wealthy, including high-ranking government
officials, often hold lavish parties to celebrate the New Year.

With extensive powers to prosecute high-profile graft
suspects, the commission is also responsible for the national
campaign against corruption.

Ahead of the Idul Fitri holidays, the commission was
criticized by gift shops for banning state officials from
receiving gifts from their subordinates or the private sector. It
did the same thing before the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The commission said officials who accepted gifts in connection
with their positions were acting inappropriately and that such
gifts were one step away from bribes.