Ezra Sihite – House Speaker Marzuki Alie said on Tuesday he was prepared to swear in the name of God as well as perform a "sumpah pocong" (death oath) to deny the allegation that he took Rp 300 billion ($32 million) in bribes from a large regional infrastructure development project.

"I'll swear in the name of God, let me be cursed for seven generations, if necessary "dipocong" in front of an Indonesian ulemah (cleric) to make it a sacred [oath]," Marzuki said.

"Sumpah pocong" is a Muslim ritual known as an ultimate oath, where a person is wrapped in a white burial shroud as they swear their innocence.

Wa Ode Nurhayati, a lawmaker from the National Mandate Party, made the accusation against Marzuki when she was indicted at the Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court last week.

"Based on data given by Nando, who was on the Budget Committee expert staff, the House Speaker was code-named 'K' and was given Rp 300 billion. Deputy speakers and [budget committee] leaders got Rp 250 billion each," she said. The total budget for the regional infrastructure development project was Rp 7.7 trillion for 126 regions.

Marzuki, who earlier said that Wa Ode made the allegation like a "drunk," demanded Wa Ode provide details of her allegations including who gave him [Marzuki] the money, the location and method of the bribe, the goal of the bribe as well as how he was involved in the case.

"That is to prevent our nation from being occupied with defamation that will waste my time," he said. "Meanwhile, I have to work because many people need to be helped."