Firli Bahuri's Billboard Appears In South Lampung, Tests The Waves For The 2024 Presidential Election?

Firli Bahuri/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri is considered to be testing the waves for the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres). This assumption emerged after two billboards with his face were installed on Jalan Natar, South Lampung.

Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review, Ujang Komarudin, assessed that Firli Bahuri is currently testing waves to see his opportunities in the 2024 presidential election. This can be seen from the recent efforts to install billboards, including on Jalan Natar, South Lampung.

"It seems that Firli is testing the water about her candidacy. She wants to see the response from the public," Ujang told reporters, Thursday, April 21.

In addition, Ujang also saw that many parties began to speak that Firli was a suitable person to be a presidential or vice presidential candidate. "So I see this is indeed a wave check movement," he said.

Even so, this political observer thinks that there is nothing wrong if for example Firli really wants to run as a presidential and vice presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election. This is because one of the former KPK leaders, Abraham Samad, has done the same thing.

Furthermore, Ujang is skeptical if Firli doesn't know anything about the billboard installation. According to him, the former Deputy for Enforcement of the KPK knew.

However, even if he really doesn't know, the KPK doesn't feel the need to investigate. Because, there is no criminal violation in the billboard installation.

"It's possible that Firli knows that (the billboard installation, ed). It's impossible not to know," he said.

The spotlight on the installation of billboards on the side of the road in South Lampung Regency was conveyed by former KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah. Through his Twitter account, @febridiansyah, he asked whether the billboards were related to the anti-corruption commission's socialization program.

"Dear Mr. @firlibahuri. Is there a photo of you on a big billboard in South Lampung. Did you know yet, sir? Or does @KPK_RI have a socialization program for me with billboards?" he wrote quoted on Wednesday, April 20.

This anti-corruption activist said he got the photo of the billboard from a friend who was on duty in South Lampung. At the end of his tweet, Febri quipped a photo of a billboard with Firli's picture which he also uploaded.

There are two photos of billboards uploaded by Febri. First, a red billboard with a picture of Firli shaking hands with President Jokowi complete with the words, 'We serve the country to free the Republic of Indonesia from corruption'.

While on the second billboard, there is only a photo of Firli Bahuri alone with a blue background. On the billboard was written, 'The state has given me everything. Now is the time for me to pay back to the nation and state'.

The two photos are accompanied by the KPK slogan, 'Dare to be honest, great!'.

"Btw, the photos are good, sir," said Febri equipped with a smiling emoticon.

This spotlight was then answered directly by Firli Bahuri. Through his written statement, he admitted that he did not know anything about the installation of the billboards.

"I don't know about this, whether it's a company advertisement or an expression of supporting the eradication of corruption in the country," said Firli.

Although he did not know, the former Deputy for Enforcement of the KPK admitted that he did not object to the installation of the billboards. Moreover, Firli said, if the message conveyed aims to provide support in efforts to eradicate corruption. "Personally, if it contains an anti-corruption warning message, it is good and if it is intended to support the KPK for eradicating corruption. The KPK would like to thank you," he said. , Acting Spokesperson for the KPK for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, also said his agency had never put up billboards with Firli's face. He also ensured that the installation did not use the agency's budget. "We ensure that the installation of billboards with anti-corruption messages is not part of the KPK program and also does not use the KPK budget," he stressed. Moreover, the public can play many roles in eradicating corruption other than by submitting complaints of alleged corruption. "Important anti-corruption messages continue to be generated, so that each other reminds each other to stay away from corrupt behavior," said Ali. only through submitting complaints of alleged criminal acts of corruption in the law enforcement process. But also to be involved in supervising the implementation of government and development, as well as delivering anti-corruption messages to the public," he concluded.