ICW urges president to be firm on Basyuni`s case

Jakarta, NU Online
The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to adopt a firm stance in relation with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)`s plan to summon Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni over alleged misuse of hajj funds.

ICW researcher Febri Diansyah said here on Thursday that the ICW hoped the president would suspend the minister if the latter was eventually named a suspect by the KPK.<>

Diansyah said the alleged case involving Basyuni had same similarities as that of former religious affairs minister Said Agil Al Munawar in 2006 who was implicated in the so-called "Permanent Hajj Fund" (DAU) case.

"So, KPK has strong legal precedence to investigate this case," she said calling for KPK to follow up the alleged misuse of the DAU fund and allege transfer of gratification money to members of the House of Representatives (DPR).

According to ICW, it has provided data on the matter to KPK. The data included the flow of a DAU fund to the religious minister in the November 2004 - May 2005 period. The fund consisted of functional bonuses, travel tactical money, open house fund, and medical assistance the religious minister provided for ZA Maulani.

Earlier, KPK was reported to have a plan to summon Basyuni over a report on alleged corruption case in the organization of hajj pilgrimage and the cultivation of the DAU fund at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

"The religious minister will be summoned and questioned over the matter," KPK deputy chairman for law enforcement Bibid Samad Riyanto said when contacted by phone here on Wednesday.

However, Bibit Samad Riyanto did give details on when the minister would be summoned. He was also reluctant to explain the developments of the plan to investigate the alleged corruption at the religious affairs ministry.

He only said that KPK would dig up information as much as possible by asking explanations from the relevant parties. (ant/dar)