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KPK plays down House’s budget threat
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National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian and Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) head Agus Rahardjo prepare to deliver a press conference at the KPK headquarters in South Jakarta on Monday. (The Jakarta Post/Wendra Ajistyatama)
T
he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has dismissed the House of Representatives’ threat to scrap its budget allocation in the 2018 state budget over its refusal to present a key witness in the e-ID graft case at an inquiry hearing.
KPK deputy chairman Alexander Marwata said he was confident the House would not be able to cancel the budget allocation for the anti-graft body and the National Police, which have also refused to comply with the House’s request.
“It is impossible to do so as the Finance Ministry has allocated the budget ceiling for both institutions,” Alexander said on Thursday, as quoted by antaranews.com.
It is possible for the House to sideline the KPK when deliberating its budget allocation but that would not be a problem, Alexander said. “If that happens, we will use the same amount in the 2017 budget. But I hope it doesn’t happen.”
The House has launched an inquiry into the KPK mainly over its handling of the e-ID graft case. Inquiry committee member Mukhamad Misbakhun has said that the House’s Commission III overseeing legal affairs could halt deliberation of the 2018 budgets for the KPK and the National Police.
The statement came after the KPK refused to allow graft suspect and former Hanura Party lawmaker Miryam S. Haryani, a key witness in the multi-trillion e-ID card graft case and who has been held in custody by the anti-graft body, to appear before the inquiry committee for questioning. (kuk/ary)
