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Golkar to withdraw from KPK inquiry at House
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(JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
U
nder the leadership of Airlangga Hartarto, the Golkar Party will withdraw its support for the controversial inquiry initiated by the House of Representatives to probe the work of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Happy Bone Zulkarnaen, an aide to Airlangga, said that with the move, Golkar expected to improve its standing ahead of the 2019 general election. Golkar's electability rating has taken a hit following graft allegations leveled at some of its politicians, including outgoing party chairman Setya Novanto.
"The mood of the moment is for us to protect the KPK," Happy said as reported by tempo.co on Wednesday.
Happy said the planned move to withdraw support for the inquiry was consistent with Airlangga's plan to clean up the party and improve its chance of success in the 2019 election.
Read also: Golkar installs Industry Minister Airlangga as new chairman
Following the KPK's move to investigate cases in which lawmakers had been implicated, the House launched an inquiry into the antigraft body as it believes the latter has become a super body and is plagued with irregularities.
The political party of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), meanwhile, said it had no plan drop its support for the House inquiry.
"We have not received a directive to change course. We continue to support the inquiry," PDI-P central board member Trimedya Pandjaitan said as reported by tempo.co.
