Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has refused to give in to mounting calls that he ask the National Police to allow the nation's top anti-graft body to solely investigate corruption within the force, which has allegedly involved police generals and has triggered a massive public reaction.

The President's spokesman, Julian Aldrin Pasha, said on Tuesday that the best way to settle this issue was by asking the police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to meet and discuss the matter.

"The President's directives have been delivered to leaders of the police and the KPK via the Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto," Julian said when asked why the President had not ordered the police to hand over their investigation into the alleged graft to the KPK in compliance with the 2002 KPK Law.

The National Police have insisted on their own investigation into the case, even though the KPK had first launched a similar probe into the procurement that is worth almost Rp 200 billion (US$21.2 million). The National police's move prompted many to speculate that their insistence was part of a rear guard action to protect certain high-profile figures within the force.

However, Julian said that the police's insistence showed their "spirit to eradicate corruption." He also called on the country's top legal experts to come up with ideas on how best the issue could be settled.

Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin meanwhile said that the President had not given any decisive directives in the issue for a reason. "I think that currently it is not a situation whereby it is necessary for the President to make such an effort".

"Both the KPK and the police are open to settlements. Why should all problems be handled directly by the President?" added Amir, who is also a politician from Yudhoyono's Democratic Party.

Amir said that both institutions had equal power to probe the case. "Please don't give the impression that the two bodies are in a standoff. These kinds of statements will not help," he said.

Djoko also denied the KPK and the police were at a standoff. "You [journalists] have given this impression. Please, we should focus on the fact that both institutions have agreed to charge the alleged actors in the case," he said.