The four members of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD)
The four members of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD)
representing Jakarta have launched a pilot anti-corruption
campaign, distributing 50,000 posters asking the public to report
to them alleged graft in the regional administrations.
Jakarta residents can inform the four councillors, Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja, Mooryati Soedibyo, Marwan Batubara and Biem T.
Benyamin, by telephone, e-mail, fax or letter.
"We hope that this anti-corruption campaign will lift Jakarta
people's spirits in the fight against corruption," said Sarwono
in his keynote speech to the DPD on Tuesday.
The campaign is sponsored by the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) and the Danish government.
Present at the ceremony were former Jakarta governor Ali
Sadikin, Governor Sutiyoso, KPK chairman Taufiequrachman Ruki and
other DPD members.
Taufiequrachman said that anti-corruption campaigns using
well-known figures like DPD members would strengthen common
efforts to fight graft.
He said the cooperation with the DPD members from Jakarta was
part of a trial project, which would be followed up others
involving DPD members across the country.
The KPK had already investigated corruption in 44 regional
legislative councils throughout country involving some 1,600
councillors, he said.
The role of DPD members in fighting corruption in their
constituencies was strategic because they were relatively
independent figures, Taufiequrachman said.
Each province has four DPD members, who were directly elected
by the public during the legislative election last year. They are
not formally affiliated to any political party.
"We hope that our campaign "Say No to Corruption" will be more
effective because it involves DPD members. The KPK cannot work
alone. It is part of our effort to treat corruption as a common
enemy," he said.
Meanwhile, Ali Sadikin stressed the need for the government to
act indiscriminately against those accused of graft.
It should especially investigate those who were involved in
corruption involving large amounts of money, he said.
"So far, I have not seen law enforcement agencies taking big
corruptors to court. They are only focusing on small corruption
cases."
The 50,000 posters with pictures of the four DPD members on
them will be posted in public places like hospitals, post
offices, health centers, bus and train stations, places of
worship and community unit offices.
They would include contact detail for each DPD member but
would not, however, post their cell phone numbers.
The DPD members were, of course, expected to follow up public
reports about corruption, Taufiequrachman said.
"If there is a criminal aspect (to the offending), they
should report their findings to the KPK."