KPK Affirms Never Placing Billboards With Firli Bahuri's Face

Billboard with Firli Bahuri's face/PHOTO via Twitter @febridiansyah

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) responded to the polemic of anti-corruption message billboards with the face of KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri installed in a number of locations.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Sector Ali Fikri said the KPK had never issued a budget for the billboard installation. Moreover, so far no procurement has been carried out.

"KPK has ensured that it has never carried out procurement or financing in the state budget for the billboard installation," said Ali in a written statement, Saturday, February 19.

Ali even said that after there were lots of photos of the billboards on social media, the KPK Inspectorate team immediately checked. As a result, the billboard with Firli's face was no longer found.

"The KPK Inspectorate Team has also checked at the location and the billboard in question has not been found," he said.

He understands that many parties want corruption to be eradicated. However, he said this effort could not be done alone.

"We realize that eradicating corruption is not only the task of the KPK," said Ali.

"For this reason, the KPK's commitment from the beginning has been to continue to embrace and invite the whole community to jointly instill awareness of integrity so that an anti-corruption culture grows in the community," he added.

As previously reported, KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri has spoken about billboards with his face complete with an anti-corruption message.

This billboard photo became the talk and was highlighted by netizens, especially Twitter. In the netizen's upload, the billboard contains the sentence:

"We arrest anyone who corrupts. We want to create an Indonesia that is just, prosperous, intelligent, prosperous, easy to find work, an Indonesia that is respected by the world and an Indonesia that makes its people proud," reads the billboard accompanied by a photo of the former Deputy for Enforcement of the Corruption Eradication Commission.

He admitted that he did not know anything about the billboards that were installed on the side of the road.

"Frankly, I don't know who and where it was all installed," said Firli, quoted from his Twitter account @firlibahuri on Saturday, February 19.

Even so, he said he didn't mind. Firli considers this to be a form of community aspiration in an effort to support the work of the institution.

"If it is intended to support the work of the KPK, I thank you," he said.

He emphasized that the KPK would not be intervened by anyone without exception. Firli said, the public must believe that the anti-corruption commission is an independent institution.

"KPK is an independent law enforcer. Greetings Anti-Corruption!" he wrote.