Palace Opens Door To Discussion On KPK Proposal To Add Political Party Funds

Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Hasan Nasbi/ANTARA/Yanka Harviana.

JAKARTA - Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Hasan Nasbi stated that the discourse of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding the increase in the allocation of APBN funds for political parties, in order to suppress potential corruption, needs to be discussed further.

"What is clear is that the President has a very serious agenda to eradicate corruption and this is also part of Astacita eradicating corruption. So, the ideas to eradicate corruption can be discussed," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, May 19.

According to him, the Palace is open to various ideas aimed at reducing corruption, including the proposal to increase political party funds, should be reviewed and discussed.

Hasan explained that efforts to suppress corrupt practices, especially within political parties, could come from various directions either through the addition of financial assistance or improving the political system itself.

The Palace, Hasan said, is willing to accommodate and process which is the best and most reasonable idea, before it can be used as a legal product in the DPR.

"To eradicate corruption, there can be many entrances. It can be from adding assistance, it can be from improving the political system," he said.

Responding to concerns about the impact of this discourse on the posture of the state budget, Hasan emphasized that all proposals would be calculated based on the availability of state financial funds and capabilities.

"In principle, every idea of improving governance and politics still requires a thorough study before being implemented," Hasan added.

"In principle, that the idea to improve the life of the nation and state, including to suppress corruption, can be discussed. And the arrival from anywhere can be accommodated for dialysis," he said.

The KPK proposes that political parties be given a larger allocation of funds through the APBN. This proposal is considered as one of the strategic steps to suppress corrupt practices sourced from high political costs.

Deputy Chairperson of the KPK, Fitroh Rohhyanto, said that the political system in Indonesia is currently forcing prospective officials, from the village to the national level, to spend a lot of money to win public office. This condition, according to him, is one of the roots of corrupt behavior among politicians.

"With the existing political system, we can see together that they must spend very large capital. If later political parties have enough costs, the funding is sufficient, maybe they can reduce (corruption-ed)," Fitroh said in a webinar broadcast on the KPK YouTube channel, Thursday (15/5).