United against corruption: Students of Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta (UMY) show their support for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in a peaceful rally on the UMY campus in Yogyakarta on Monday. (JP/Bambang Muryanto)

Muhammadiyah-affiliated universities from across Indonesia, together with elements of Muhammadiyah, the country'€™s second-largest Islamic organization, declared their opposition Monday to any criminalization of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

'€œIndonesia has been long held hostage by this dark activity, namely corruption. Currently, there is a systematic attempt to paralyze the KPK. It should not happen. Letting this happen means that this nation is digging its own grave,'€ Ahmad Syafii Ma'€™arif, a Muhammadiyah leader, said at a rally held at the Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta (UMY) on Monday.

Rectors and lecturers of Muhammadiyah universities, leaders of Muhammadiyah organizations, and a Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member, Afnan Hadikusumo, attended the joint declaration of support for the antigraft body. Students attending the event brought banners emblazoned with statements like '€œMuhammadiyah #Save KPK'€, '€œSave the Nation'€, and '€œThe President Must be Decisive'€.

'€œMuhammadiyah ought not to stand still [...] in corruption eradication,'€ said Syafii.

The former Muhammadiyah central board chairman is one of seven leaders appointed to an independent team established by President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo to resolve conflict between the KPK and the National Police.

Syafii said the National Police'€™s move to arrest KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto could not be justified. The conflict between the KPK and the National Police must be immediately ended and the independent team must work fast to make reconciliation a reality, he added.

On Friday, the National Police named Bambang a suspect for allegedly ordering a witness to commit perjury at the Constitutional Court in 2010 in a regional election dispute case in Waringin Barat, Central Kalimantan.

Noorjanah Djohantini, the chairwoman of Aisyiyah, the independent women'€™s organization of the Muhammadiyah, said she regretted the string of attempts perpetrated by institutions and individuals to disrupt corruption eradication efforts conducted by the KPK.

'€œWe, along with all women in Indonesia, are opposed to the criminalization of the KPK. We must unite to save Indonesia by saving the KPK,'€ she said.

UMY rector Bambang Cipto, representing Muhammadiyah academics, said he fully supported the KPK's efforts to eradicate corruption in Indonesia, as they were consistent with Muhammadiyah's organizational vision.(ebf)(++++)

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