Corruption is unforgivable crime, says NU senior figure

Bogor, NU Online
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) advisory council member KH Masdar Farid Mas'udi said corruption was an unforgivable extraordinary crime.

"The impacts of corruption on a country are so extraordinary. Corruption is a big crime that can threaten a country's life," Mas'udi said here Saturday.&l<>t;br />
A book titled "Corruptors are Non-Believers" NU and Muhammadiyah launched last Wednesday reflected these two main Islamic organizations` deep concern about the corruption phenomenon, he said.

Published by Mizan, the book compiled the mainstream views of NU and Muhammadiyah ulema involved in the anti-corruption campaign in Indonesia, he said.

Masdar Farid Mas'udi said the book was expected to enable Indonesians to get rid of corrupt culture and behavior in their their lives.

"Corruption negates the teachings of truth. In Islam, corruption is indeed a big sin," he said.

On Friday, Muhammadiyah Chairman Din Syamsuddin urged the government not to give remissions or pardon to convicted corruptors.

"The government must be sensitive to and consider its people's sufferings. Don't hurt the people's sense of justice," he said in response to the release of some convicted corruptors.

Providing convicted corruptors remission or pardon was the president's prerogative but he should also consider the people's sensitivity, Syamsuddin said.

The Indonesian people consider corruption as an extraordinary crime against the state and nation.

"At the moment, our people are undergoing economic difficulties such as skyrocketing prices of staple food," he said.

A lot of ordinary Indonesians were struggling to meet their daily needs ahead of the Idul Fitri festivities in September, he said.

One of the convicted corruptors who had enjoyed a remission and pardon from the Indonesian president was Syaukani Hassan Rais.

The ailing former head of Kutai Kertanegara district, East Kalimantan Province, had been released. (ant/dar)