Jakarta – The government is being slammed for reducing the investigation and prosecution budget of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) from Rp 26.3 billion (approximately US$2.9 million) in 2010 to Rp 19.2 billion in 2011.

The Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA) said the Rp 7.1 billion decrease was proof of the government's lack of commitment to combating graft.

"The budget is an instrument reflecting the government's level of seriousness in upholding law and combating corruption. The decline in the budget shows the government's declining commitment," FITRA coordinator for advocating and investigation, Uchok Sky Khadafi, told the press Tuesday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Uchok said the KPK's overall budget for 2011, Rp 575 billion in total, was actually an increase from the Rp 392 billion this year.

"But, the increases are in insubstantial units, such as in human resources management, public relations and protocol activities," he added. Uchok also put the blame on the House of Representatives, which approved the government's bill on the anti-graft body's 2011 budget.