PKS Secretary-General Anis Matta, a House of Representatives deputy speaker whose name was mentioned in the report to the KPK, denied the accusations of Yusuf Supendi, calling the accusations slander.

“It’s an old song,” Anis said.

Yusuf, a PKS legislator in the House from 2004-2009, accused Anis of embezzling Rp 10 billion (US$1.15 million) in campaign funds, which he believed came from unnamed Middle East sources.

He claimed that the money was part of the total Rp 50 billion in donations to former National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. (ret.) Adang Daradjatun’s campaign for the Jakarta governorship in 2007. To support his accusations, Yusuf provided several documents. He said the law prohibited the use of foreign funds by general election candidates.

Yusuf added that he had sought an internal settlement with the party’s officials.

“But, it did not work. That’s why I came to the KPK.”

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the commission would study the report before deciding whether or not to investigate.

“We only investigate cases meeting certain criteria: Those involving state officials, damaging public interest and misusing authority and state funds. We need to analyze whether the report on Pak Anis meets the criteria,” he said.

Anis said he would not sue Yusuf for defamation as it could prolong the “unhealthy debates”. He added that all alleged involvement cited in the case had been settled by the party’s internal mechanisms.

There are speculations from within the PKS that Yusuf’s allegations were driven by partisan influences.

The motives might stem from the PKS’ opposition to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party in the House or they may be related to negative campaigns meant to undermine the PKS ahead of the 2014 polls.

Anis said he believed political interest was behind Yusuf’s report. “However, these small things will not affect our power in the 2014 election,” he said.

Yusuf denied that he had been politically manipulated. He also denied that the report came because he was offended after being sacked last year by the party’s national executive board.

Last week, Yusuf filed a report with the House’s ethics council, alleging slander by PKS chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq.

“Lutfi accused me of molesting somebody else’s wife,” Yusuf said.

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