Anti-Graft Agency Chairman to Resign If Revision Done

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Agus Rahardjo, said here on Sunday he would resign if the House of Representatives finally decides to revise the law on KPK.

"I myself is ready to resign if the revision is done. I will be the first person to resign" he said at a meeting of inter-faith leaders on fight against corruption at the office of Muhammadiyah Islamic organization.

He said more concrete steps were needed to fight corruption in the country as the situation has been very critical.
Agus on the occasion expressed thanks to the religious leaders that were present at the event for all their support to the institution that he leads.

"KPK is thankful for the support from religious leaders. There are leaders from Muhammadiyah, Budha, Hindu, Konghucu and Catholic. Your position is clear that the revision will weaken and not strengthen KPK," he said.

In response to Aguss statement Muhammadiyah general chairman Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak pledged that all religious councils would stand by KPK.

"Religious councils are ready to fully support the strengthening of KPK. We can assure that the revision must be stopped so that Pak (Mr) Agus need not resign," he said.

There are four points currently being discussed with regard to the KPK law revision. They include limiting KPKs wiretapping authority, establishment of an oversight committee, KPKs authority to drop a case and authority to recruit its own investigators.

The four points have been considered as weakening the KPK and because of that strong opposition against revision from anti-corruption activists, academicians and religious leaders has been increasing. The government has been urged to reject the revision.

The revision effort is led by the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and has been supported by six other party factions. Only three political parties reject the revision. They are Gerindra, Demokrat and PKS.(WDY)