Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said the composition of President Prabowo Subianto's Red and White Cabinet ignored integrity and legal records, especially concerning alleged corruption. ICW coordinator Agus Sunaryanto said several cabinet members were recorded to have been questioned in connection with, or even alleged to have accepted, corruption money in the trial facts.
"There are members of the cabinet who have a track record of being suspected of corruption. Therefore, the public has reasons to doubt Prabowo's commitment to fighting corruption," Agus Sunaryanto said in a written statement on Thursday, October 24.
The ICW argues that Prabowo has failed to make full use of the records of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) and the Directorate General of Taxes. These, he said, are very important to ensure that potential cabinet members have never been involved in corruption or tax affairs.
Agus said Prabowo has plenty of homework in terms of getting the cabinet to work more effectively and rooting out corruption. ICW felt that the president had missed real steps in the anti-corruption pledge that began at the beginning of the cabinet selection process. "The cabinet is the executor of the president's vision and mission," he said.
The following are Prabowo's ministers and deputy ministers that ICW views as having problematic track records:
- Airlangga Hartarto as Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs. Alleged corruption in crude palm oil exports.
- Ario Bimo Nandito Ariotedjo as Minister of Youth and Sports. His name has been linked to the BTS corruption case.
- Eddy Hiariej as Deputy Minister of Justice. Alleged to have accepted bribes and kickbacks in the process of legal advice and ratification of legal entity status at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
- Budi Gunawan as Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs. Alleged to have fat bank accounts during his time as a police general.
- Yusril Ihza Mahendra as Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections. Alleged corruption in fees charged to access the Legal Entity Administration System or Sisminbakum.
According to him, reinforcing the KPK as an institution, which has been weakened during the Jokowi era, should be a priority. In addition, immediate efforts should be made to ratify the Asset Forfeiture Law, revise the Anti-Corruption Law, and restore the KPK's independence by revising the KPK Law.