New anticorruption chairman vows to be firm
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Newly elected chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Insp. Gen. (ret) Taufieqqurochman Ruki vowed on Friday to deal firmly with anyone suspected of committing corruption, regardless of his or her position.
Speaking during a discussion on the new commission, the first since he was elected chairman to the commission earlier this week, Taufieq also said that he would be accountable to the people because he was elected by the House of Representatives (DPR).
"No matter how powerful or influential the figures are, if they are involved in corruption we will go after them," he said during the meeting, which also featured legislator Teras Narang and secretary general of Transparency International's Indonesia office Emmy Hafild.
Taufieq made the statement in response to a question, on whether he had the courage to handle graft cases involving high- ranking police or military officials.
Along with Amien Sunaryadi, Sjahruddin Rasul, Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean and Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, Taufieq was recently elected leader of the planned KPK, dubbed a "super body" in charge of eliminating the country's pandemic corruption practices.
Taufieq said although he had never been involved in any corruption eradication campaign, he had taken part in some workshops on corruption in other countries, including Malaysia, Australia and the United States.
As a retired police officer, he acknowledged that corruption was rampant in all levels of the police force, but added that he had tried to stop it.
"I know that corruption is rampant in the police force. I know because I am an insider," he said.
He explained that it would be difficult to build a powerful institution to combat corruption, but vowed to do his best.
Emmy Hafild suggested that the recruitment of staff and investigators to support the KPK must be done on a merit-based system.
"All staff with the commission must be people with integrity, morality, independence and honesty," she said.
Surprisingly, Teras Narang, disclosed that his House commission wanted the secretariat of the KPK to be under one of the ministries.
"The secretariat of the Corruption Eradication Commission should fall under one of ministries under the supervision of the House Commission II," said Teras, who chairs the House's Commission.
House Commission II monitors the home ministry, justice and human rights ministry, state administrative reform ministry, national police and the attorney general's office.
"It (the KPK being supervised by his commission) is designed to reduce state budget costs," said Teras of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction.
Based on the Law No. 30/2002 on KPK, the secretary general of KPK is appointed and dismissed by the President. The duties and function of the secretary general are regulated further by a decree on the KPK.