T

he public funding initiative to help the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) construct its new building gained momentum with more groups pledging support for the movement.

The country’s association of street vendors came to the KPK headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Monday to pledge financial support for the public funding initiative.

Secretary general of the Association of Indonesian Street Vendors (PPKLI) Junaedi Sitorus said that members of the organization, which numbered 54 million, could be ready to donate Rp 1,000 each in the next three days.

Junaedi said that he was optimistic about collecting Rp 162 billion (US$17.17 million) from members of the organization.

“We must take actions against any efforts to weaken the KPK,” Junaedi told reporters.

The public funding initiative so far has also won support from senior government officials.

Late last week, Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin said he supported the plan and would be ready to be the first donor.

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan on Monday pledged that he would donate his salary for the next six months for the public funding drive.

“This is a positive development. I support the construction of the new building,” Dahlan said as quoted by Antara.

Dahlan said that the KPK deserved more support as it had shown a good record in eradicating corruption.

The initiative for the KPK public funding came from the anti-graft body deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto after the House of Representatives declined to approve a new budget for the construction of a new KPK building.

The KPK’s leaders have said that the commission needs a new headquarters, as its current building, located in Kuningan, South Jakarta, is operating over its capacity.

The building — 31-years-old and formerly the headquarters of Bank Papan Sejahtera, which was liquidated by the government in 1999 — was designed to accommodate 350 employees. The KPK currently has 752.

The KPK previously announced plans to recruit an additional 500 employees, bringing the total number of people working for or seconded to the commission from other agencies up to 1,200.

Separately, the KPK advisory board warned that the commission should not accept money from the public until a new mechanism was devised to manage the fund.

“I could not accept the funds until there was a clear policy to manage the money,” advisory board member Abdullah Hehamahua said.

Abudllah said that the public funding initiative could be used to weaken the KPK.

He said that enemies of the KPK could easily attack the commission if it was later found that portions of cash collected under the public initiative plan came from illicit sources.

Meanwhile, Bambang said that as much as the KPK appreciated the public support, the commission also hoped the House would give the go-ahead for the disbursement
of the fund.

Bambang also said that the KPK had in fact received support from several ministries, including the Law and Human Rights Ministry, the Public Works Ministry, and the Administrative Reforms Ministry in its plan to build a new headquarters.

He said that the KPK had thus far not been able to convince the House over the urgency of the new building.