Arientha Primanita – The Democratic Party's dismissal of Muhammad Nazaruddin as party treasurer does not illustrate Yudhoyono's seriousness in eradicating political corruption in the country, but rather his desire to save face, an activist said on Tuesday.

Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy founder Hendardi said the decision to merely dismiss Nazaruddin as party treasurer represented a small compromise.

While Nazaruddin remains in the House of Representatives, he could use that position to protect himself from the cases he is allegedly involved in, Hendardi said.

"The decision does not show that Yudhoyono is serious about eradicating political corruption, but rather his own image and the image of the Democratic Party," he said in a statement.

Hendardi said Yudhoyono and the party's chairman, Anas Urbaningrum, could not wash their hands of Nazaruddin as if the party was squeaky clean. "The public no longer believes the corruption eradication attempts initiated by political elites," he said.

In the case of Nazaruddin, the public already suspects the involvement of other Democratic politicians, as the alleged corrupt practices of Nazaruddin could not have been carried out alone, Hendardi said.

Nazaruddin has been accused of taking kickbacks from the contract to buil and athletes' village in Palembang, South Sumatra, for November's SEA Games. Mindo Rosaline Manullang, who is suspected of brokering the deal, initially accused Nazaruddin of having taken Rp 25 billion ($2.93 million) for mediating between the government and the winning contractor, but has since recanted that allegation.

Hendardi said Nazaruddin should have been dismissed from the party altogether after they first learned of the SEA Games graft case, to allow the Corruption Eradication Commission to freely investigate the case.