Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Embattled Indonesian House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie, who is often criticized for making ill-considered comments, has lashed out at the media for twisting his statements.

Marzuki, in the firing line for his calls to disband the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at the same time as his ruling Democratic Party has found itself at the center of a major corruption scandal, said the media put him on trial "whenever there's a difference of opinions". "[My statements] should be discussed, not be judged," he said.

Marzuki, who also suggested convicted corruptors be pardoned for first offenses but sentenced to death if convicted a second time, said he was ready to face the consequences, including any effort to force his to resign as speaker of the House, also known as the DPR.

"I am ready to resign at anytime," he told journalist in Jakarta. "We should not be afraid of anything. In life, sometimes we go up, sometimes we go down. That's a common thing."