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resident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) urged leaders of the country's law enforcement agencies to improve coordination, especially when dealing with graft cases, so that their work does not hinder the country's economic recovery.

Yudhoyono delivered the statement during a meeting with National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo, Attorney General Basrief Arief, and Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Abraham Samad at the President's office, Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said on Thursday.

Also attending the meeting were Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chairman Hadi Poernomo, Supreme Court chief justice Hatta Ali and Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin.

'The President presented the government's package of economic policies to the leaders of the law enforcement bodies. He said that good coordination and synergy between law enforcement agencies and the government was necessary to help safeguard the country's economic situation and support the government's economic programs,' Djoko told reporters after the meeting.

Djoko said that an example of 'good coordination and synergy' was sharing early information about 'misappropriation and misuse in progress' by government officials.

'Such an 'early detection' is as important as 'preventive' measures. As for law enforcers, don't just wait for the officials to finally commit misappropriation if they know it will happen beforehand,' Djoko said.

Yudhoyono convened the meeting on the heel of the KPK's arrest of Rudi Rubiandini, the suspended head of the country's upstream oil and gas regulatory body SKKMigas, for allegedly accepting US$700,000 in bribes from a foreign company.

Analysts have said the high-profile corruption crackdown by the KPK has taken domestic and foreign investors in the oil and gas sector by surprise, with concern mounting that the arrest had tarnished the country's business-friendly reputation.

Djoko denied the President's demand could be seen as leniency toward graft. 'We'd be better preventing something from happening because when it eventually happens and the law is finally used, the situation could be worse,' he said.

Djoko said that officials at times unintentionally engaged in corruption. 'As you know, officials can commit corruption because they do not understand the laws and regulations,' Djoko added. 'The government does not tolerate corruption but anti-corruption efforts must be in line with the government's economic programs.'

Asked about Yudhoyono's statement after the meeting, Abraham declined to make a comment. 'We just agreed to enhance coordination in relation to the government's economic policies,' he said.

Abraham said the KPK always liaised with other law enforcement agencies, including the police and the Attorney General's Office (AGO) when handling graft cases.

Hatta, meanwhile, said that law enforcement could help economic growth 'by ensuring that the law is enforced indiscriminately.'

In December last year, Yudhoyono made a similar statement in his speech during the commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day at the State Palace. He said that many state officials had been charged with corruption even though they had no intention of committing corruption.

'Sometimes we need to make a quick policy, but the lack of knowledge about corruption can lead to officials making a decision that can be considered a violation of the Corruption Law. This kind of official does not have the intention to commit corruption. The state must protect them,' the President said.