Novel Baswedan Calls KPK Leaders Lying

JAKARTA - Former investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Novel Baswedan again satirized his former leaders by saying they like to lie.

This was conveyed by Novel in response to the statement by the Deputy Chair of the KPK, Nurul Ghufron, who said that working meetings at five-star hotels like those carried out by the leadership were not new. A similar activity, he said, had been attended by employees who were no longer working at the KPK.

"One of the strengths of the current (now) KPK Pimp (leader) is that he likes to lie," Novel said as quoted from his Twitter account @nazaqistsha, Friday, October 29.

Novel emphasized that when he was still at the KPK, meetings were never held in hotels with five-star facilities such as the Sheraton Mustika Hotel Yogyakarta. Even if it is held at a hotel, Novel said, it is usually only three-star.

Not only that, but the work meeting is also purely just to discuss work and there are no other activities including leisure cycling activities. So, he considered what Ghufron said was a lie.

"Before (previously) the KPK working meetings were mostly in 3-star hotels, Bogor peaks. Never (never) been in 5-star hotels, booking 1 restaurant & relaxing bicycle events during working hours. Try to be clearly appointed," said Novel.

The former employee who was eliminated as a result of the National Insight Test (TWK) then questioned the purpose of the leadership and high-ranking officials of the anti-corruption commission holding a meeting in Yogyakarta. Not only that, but Novel also mentioned the cost of the meeting, including plane tickets.

"The trip to Yogya by plane is about 100 people (people), how much does it cost?" he asked.

Novel said that helping to distribute the state budget to one area as the pretext of Firli Bahuri et al. primarily stimulated tourism. However, he asked the leaders of the anti-corruption commission not to use state money for luxury.

"If you want to help move tourism, don't use state money, let alone extravagantly. Hopefully, there won't be a lot of officials who are (not) sensitive and not ashamed like this," he said.

As previously reported, Nurul Ghufron answered the criticisms submitted by a number of parties regarding the work meeting activities in Jogja, precisely at the Sheraton Hotel Mustika Yogyakarta. He said his party held a meeting outside Jakarta to distribute the state budget (APBN) to the regions.

"If we only spend it in Jakarta, the regions will not be able to absorb or use it, so we carry it out in Yogyakarta," he said.

He also mentioned that a meeting outside the city like this is not the first time it has been held. In 2020, the meeting was held in Bandung, West Java. In fact, he also mentioned that the work meeting was also attended by employees, including those who are now no longer working at the KPK.

"For example, Mr. Giri (Giri Suprapdiono) used to be the Director of Dikmas (Education and Community Service) they also participated, Mr. Koko (Sujanarko) also participated, Mr. Febri as the Head of Public Relations of the KPK also participated. So (followed by) all structures. Not only today before "Earlier, when they were still part of the KPK, they also participated," explained Ghufron.

"So if it is now criticized, you can conclude for yourself," he concluded.