SBY prods law enforcers to work harder to curb graft
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has urged law enforcers to work harder to root out corruption, amid criticism from some quarters about his administration's perceived lack of action on graft during his first 100 days in office.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi quoted the President as saying that although recent investigations into high profile cases had "drastically" reduced the number of corruption cases, he was "not satisfied", and had ordered law enforcers to improve their performance and speed up the investigation of graft cases.
"We're on the right track," Sudi said during a press conference after a meeting between the President, Attorney General Abdul Rachman Saleh, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, and Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Taufiqurrahman Ruki at the presidential office.
Indonesia has been rated as one of the most corrupt country in the world, a situation that has given rise to various chronic problems and badly stunted economic growth.
Susilo has said that curbing corruption would be among the top priorities of his government. Against a backdrop of high public expectations, a number of analysts have said that the Susilo administration had failed to deliver on its promised war on corruption during its first 100 days in office, which come to an end on Friday.
But Sudi said that the public should also acknowledge the progress made by law enforcers, and be realistic and accept that the eradication of corruption was not something that could be accomplished overnight.
"The work carried out by the attorney general, KPK and the National Police chief has not been in vain. We should appreciate what our law enforcers have done. Don't simply dismiss it. While we may not be satisfied, we should thank God for what has been achieved," he said.
Attorney General Abdul Rachman said he had informed the President that his office had finished investigating 124 corruption cases involving local government officials, all of which were now ready to be submitted to the courts.
Meanwhile, Da'i highlighted a series of corruption cases that had been investigated by the police, including a high profile banking fraud case involving Bank Negara Indonesia; a sugar scam involving Nurdin Halid, a politician linked to the Golkar Party; alleged corruption in the Karaha Bodas power project; and alleged corruption by suspended Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh.
He also said that his subordinates were ready to submit the case files on two mayors and 15 regents suspected of corruption in different parts of the country.