SBY's commitment to graft eradication questioned

Irawaty Wardany ,  THE JAKARTA POST ,  JAKARTA   |  Mon, 06/29/2009 12:36 PM  |  National

A recent controversial statement by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono continues to raise questions concerning his commitment to corruption eradication.

In a discussion held Saturday by the Trijaya network, anti-graft activist Saldi Isra said he has lately seen a significant reduction in Yudhoyono's determination to fight graft.

"I'm one of the people who has paid special attention to SBY's corruption eradication agenda since he became president in 2004 and I can say the difference between his anti-corruption efforts back then and now is like the difference between the earth and the sky," said Saldi, a public administration lecturer at Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra.

Speaking at a discussion entitled "The Corruption Eradication Commission *KPK* and presidential election campaign issues", Saldi said the issue of the 2004 presidential instruction on the acceleration of graft eradication efforts, in which he instructed all ministers and state institutions to support graft eradication measures and implement good governance, was clear proof that he had been really committed to the issue.

"Unfortunately, such spirit has been gradually decreasing and I notice there are so many efforts to weaken the KPK," Saldi said, adding the efforts were made both through legal and political mechanisms.

"There are also many KPK methods that are being questioned, including the commission's authority to wiretap," he said, adding that he regretted SBY's statement Tuesday that the KPK has "extraordinary power" and is "only answerable to God".

A day after his remark, Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) chief Didi Widayadi came to the KPK and made a statement that he would make a thorough audit of the KPK's performance, including a technical audit on their wiretapping.

He said he had an "indirect" order from the President.

SBY held a press conference Thursday to clarify the statement, saying he never gave the instruction and that it would be outside the BPKP's jurisdiction to audit state institutions that are not under the president.

"I couldn't possibly ask the BPKP to audit such institutions, including the KPK," SBY said.

However, Saldi insisted that it was impossible for a state institution to act without orders from a superior.

He urged the BPKP chief to reveal who was the one who gave order to him so as not to confuse the public.

KPK advisor Abdullah Hehamahua acknowledged that when the BPKP chief met with the commission*s chairmen they did not talk anything about the audit.

"They were only talking about how BPKP officials can help the KPK audit state losses caused by corruptors. But when he *BPKP chief* conducted a press conference he directly mentioned the issue," Abdullah said.

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