Called Hedon Because He Budgeted For An Official Car, KPK Deputy Chairman: Please Come To My Rented House

Deputy Chairman of the KPK Nurul Ghufron (Documentation: Public Relations of the KPK)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Deputy Chairman Nurul Ghufron invited Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) to come to the rented house he lived in.

This statement was conveyed in response to ICW's accusations that the KPK leadership in the Firli Bahuri era was luxurious and hedonistic , because it budgeted for official cars.

"Please go to my house, to see my rented house, see my food, see the vehicle, clothes and everything. After that I will accept whatever the assessment is," said Ghufron in a written statement, Monday, October 19.

Moreover, budgeting for official cars for the leadership, supervisory board and structural officers of the KPK is nothing new. This is because the procurement budget has been proposed in previous years.

"The budget for official cars has actually been submitted to the DPR several times in the previous fiscal year, not only in 2021. However, due to economic conditions, it has not been given," he said.

He said that as the state apparatus, leadership and structural officers of anti-gas institutions, it was indeed facilitated by official cars. It's just that, because the facility has not been accommodated, a transport allowance is given in exchange.

"So far, the KPK leadership has used private cars for their official activities," he said.

Furthermore, regarding the price of cars, Ghufron said that his institution did not determine the standards including the type of car. All these matters, he said, are regulated in regulations concerning standard facilities for state apparatus at all levels.

"The KPK even asked for the lowest price standard," he said.

Even so, he expressed his gratitude for the public's attention regarding the procurement of official cars for the leadership, supervisory board and structural officers of the KPK.

"I believe it is because of love for the KPK," he said.

Previously, based on information, the budget for the official car of KPK chairman Firli Bahuri was worth Rp1.45 billion. Meanwhile, the four deputy chairmen of the KPK each receive a budget of Rp1 billion.

Responding to this, Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said it was unethical if in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) proposed an official car budget of up to billions of rupiah for the leadership and supervisory board.

According to ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana, the budget proposal which was later approved by the Indonesian Parliament impressed that the KPK leaders in the Firli Bahuri era were insensitive to the pandemic conditions that made the Indonesian people's economy difficult.

"They should understand and be sensitive that Indonesia is being hit by the COVID-19 epidemic which has devastated the people's economy. So it is unethical to ask for a budget for buying official cars worth billions," said Kurnia in his written statement, Friday, October 16.

The application for the official car is also deemed to no longer reflect the value that should be held by this anti-graft agency, namely simplicity.

"That value is getting faded. Especially in the era of Firli Bahuri's leadership," he said.

Kurnia noted that there were two moments that showed the decline in the value of simplicity in the institution, namely when discussions on the increase in the salary of the KPK leadership continued and when the KPK leadership received an official car.

However, these anti-corruption activists were not surprised by this change. Because, Firli Bahuri, who should give an example, is the opposite, namely showing a hedonistic lifestyle by using a helicopter for his personal needs.

Moreover, additional facilities for the leadership and supervisory board were also deemed unnecessary. Because, so far there has been no striking achievement from them.