RI leaders must be squeaky clean

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Former corrupt leaders who are responsible for the moral degradation of the Indonesian people, must not be allowed to lead the country, an influential Muslim cleric says.

"Indonesia's future leaders must be free from any scandals, whether in the economic or political field and must have high moral standing", chairman of largest Muslim organization Nadhlatul Ulama, Hasyim Muzadi told reporters here on Wednesday.

He was responding to Golkar Chairman Akbar Tandjung's bid to contend the presidential election. Akbar is appealing to the Supreme Court to review the verdict of the district court which sentenced him to three years imprisonment for misusing National Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds.

The newly endorsed bill on presidential elections allows convicted politicians to be nominated as presidential candidates. -- Antara