Jakarta – House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso says that the alleged split within the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), reported in recent weeks, is nothing but nonsense.

The Golkar politician remains confident that the five deputies within the anti-graft body are still working hand-in-hand in tackling corruption cases in the country.

"I think that the split is just a rumor. In reality, they are still unified," Priyo said as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday. He added that the antigraft body is currently led by the best people who complete each other, both the young guns and veterans.

The efforts of the KPK were thought to have been hindered by alleged conflicts within the agency. There rumors circulated that the Commission's leadership was split into two camps, between KPK chairman Abraham Samad and Zulkarnain on one hand, and Bambang Widjojanto and Busyro Muqoddas on the other hand. Another KPK leader, Adnan Pandu Pradja, is reportedly undergoing treatment for cancer.

The bureau's commissioners had refuted such rumors. KPK chairman Abraham, a lawyer from South Sulawesi, had said that the issue was fictional, adding that disagreements among KPK leaders was normal in the bureau's decision-making process. (asa)