Jakarta, NU Online
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Friday that the government under his leadership would remain consistent in the fight against corruption.

He expressed regret that opinions were aired suggesting that the government had started to weaken in its efforts to fight graft.

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"Do not distort facts and don`t make people believe as if we are not serious. It is not good. If we really want to create a clean government let us do it. Do not do it just for mere campaign purposes," he told newsmen before attending a function to mark Interantional Anti-Narcotics Day at Senayan.

He said actually he was reluctant to address polemics but in this case he felt he had to react to prevent the people from developing a wrong perception.

"If we look back to the end of 2004 when I began the most aggressive campaign against corruption in the country`s history, many people asked me to stop it arguing it could disrupt the economy, the flow of bank credits and other undesired things. Please, recheck the newspaper pages of the past 4.5 years. There should be no lies among us. I said then that we would carry on (with the anti-corruptiond drive)," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said although the anti-curruption effort would continue, he would like to remind law enforcing agencies such as the police, the prosecutor`s offices and also the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to remain proportional and always to adhere to the existing system in carrying out their duties so that no mistake would be made.

On the occasion, Yudhoyono also said he had seen indications of a return to nepotist practices in the bureaucracy which, unless dealt with, could become as rampant as in the past.

"We will discuss this in more detail later. The collusive and nepotist atmosphere is coming back among state officials and if this is not checked, it may turn into a crisis like before. I will elaborate on this matter on other occasions," he said.

President Yudhoyono said that he and his government remained consistent in the efforts to fight corruption along with the police, the prosecutor`s offices and other insitutitions like the KPK.

"KPK must be strong and firm in carrying out its tasks and must avoid mistakes and so must the police and the prosecutor`s offices. Brooms must be clean before being used to clean up," he said.

Yudhoyono then corrected reports in several national media which, he said, might be wrongly intepreted as him introducing a discourse to weaken the role or authority of the KPK.

"As a matter of principle, power must be controlled through laws, among other things. People must also participate. However, this statement of mine was later reported in a way as if I want the KPK`s power or authority curtailed. That was not what I meant at all," he said.

On Thursday, during a visit to a national media office, Yudhoyono was asked about the future of KPK. In his reply to the question, the President said there should always be a check and balance mechanism for institutions or persons that hold power.

"In politics there are legislative, judicative and executive bodies and also the press as the fourth pillar. The press itself is monitored by the public. And is the KPK and other law enforcers. There are mechanisms for supervision such as through laws and by the people," he said.(dar)