Jakarta – Several members of the House of Representatives have launched an attack against Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) for releasing a report that they deemed libelous.
Earlier this week, some of the politicians lodged complaints with the National Police against the ICW over the latter's report that stated that 36 politicians, who were seeking reelection in the 2014 legislative election, had failed to support the graft eradication campaign. Others have decided to launch a smear campaign against the ICW.
Golkar Party lawmaker Nudirman Munir, who is one of the politicians on the ICW's list, retaliated by accusing the antigraft watchdog of receiving Rp 400 million (US$40,170) from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
"The KPK chairman said during a meeting with House Commission III on legal affairs that the commission [KPK] gave Rp 400 million to the ICW from a total Rp 40 billion budget earmarked from the state budget," Nudirman said.
United Development Party (PPP) lawmaker Ahmad Yani and People's Conscience (Hanura) Party politician Syarifuddin Sudding went a step further by filing a police report on Monday acccusing the ICW of defamation. Yani said the list was subjective and could have negative consequences for him.
Last month, the ICW published the names of 36 politicians it deemed were graft-friendly. Golkar appeared at the top of the list with 10 politicians while the Democratic Party came in second with nine of its members appearing on the list. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) had five and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), four.
ICW coordinator Danang Widoyoko said the antigraft watchdog stood by its report and was prepared to deal with possible legal action.
Danang denied, however, that the ICW received money from the KPK. He said the watchdog had instead channeled Rp 438 million from public donations gathered during the "Save the KPK" campaign to build public infrastructure.
"I think he doesn't really understand where the money came from. I don't know why they are attacking us. If this is an attempt to weaken us, it means we are moving backward in fighting corruption," he said.
KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto also denied that the commission had donated money to the ICW.
This is not the first time the ICW has been attacked for its graft disclosures. In 2010, ICW member Tama S. Langkun was injured after being stabbed by an unknown assailant. Tama was attacked soon after a team of ICW investigators started looking into suspiciously "fat" bank accounts belonging to a number of senior police officers. (koi)