'Mulyana's arrest is a good sign'

'Mulyana's arrest is a good sign'

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has made headlines in
the past two weeks by sending suspended Aceh governor Abdul Puteh
to jail and arresting General Elections Commission (KPU) member
Mulyana W. Kusumah for alleged bribery. Currently, the commission
is tracing state money being kept overseas. The Jakarta Post
asked residents how they perceived the efforts made to fight
against corruption.

Ardan, 29, works for a private company on Jl. Sudirman. He
lives in the Bumi Serpong Damai housing complex, Tangerang:

Well, I think the 10-year jail term for Aceh governor Abdul
Puteh and the arrest of Mulyana W. Kusumah are good signs of the
government's seriousness in eradicating corruption.

Puteh's verdict indicates that there are still independent
judges, as we know that the Aceh governor received political
support from the Golkar party.

We must also give credit to the KPK, which called to attention
indications of corruption in the KPU by arresting Mulyana. I hope
that corruption cases in the commission will be unraveled.

We are waiting for more action against other embezzlers, who
continue to enjoy their freedom, including businesspeople who
have stolen state money through Bank Indonesia's fund assistance
scheme.

Barkah, 35, is a civil servant with the Central Jakarta
municipal office. He lives in Cipulir subdistrict, South Jakarta:

The arrest of KPU member Mulyana could lead to further
indications of corruption in the KPU. I believe that he is not
alone. More KPU members must be involved in his case.

But I cannot understand why the KPK did not immediately arrest
other KPU members. Isn't it enough proof of other parties'
involvement that Mulyana was caught red-handed trying to bribe a
high-ranking official of the Supreme Audit Agency?

The credibility of the KPK is at stake if it cannot disclose
corruption in the KPU.

We, of course, hope that the KPK will also investigate more
corruption cases in other agencies that have caused losses of
trillions of rupiah to the state.

Sentencing Puteh to jail is not an extraordinary thing because
former Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung was also sentenced to jail by
the lower courts, but the High Court exonerated him.

--The Jakarta Post