Melchias Mekeng Politicians Reasonable Officials To Receive Small Number Of Haram Money, KPK: Not Educating The Community!

Former Chairman of the DPR Banggar, Melchias Markus Mekeng was questioned by the KPK as a witness in the e-KTP corruption case with the suspect Markus Nari on Thursday 11 January 2018. (ANTARA-Wahyu Putro A)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that the statement by a member of Commission IX of the DPR from the Golkar Party faction, Melchias Markus Mekeng, did not educate the public. He is considered not fully understanding the concept of corruption.

This was conveyed by the Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri in response to Mekeng's statement during a Working Meeting with the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Monday, March 27. He said there was no problem if there were officials who received small amounts of illicit money.

"For us, if that is true and it was conveyed by public officials, for example, of course it does not educate the public," Ali told reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, March 28.

Ali reminded that corruption is a common enemy. The eradication cannot only be carried out by the KPK but must also involve many parties.

"Whether it's law enforcement, the KPK, the Attorney General's Office, the police, and also community participation, including state administrators," he said.

Furthermore, Ali said that the laws and regulations did not classify corruption large or small. He said, anyone who abuses their authority, position, and tries to enrich themselves must be charged and prosecuted.

"Whatever it is (the amount of corruption, ed). In fact, if the bribe does not have to enrich something. The promise is corruption," said Ali.

When it was his turn to talk in the meeting room with the Ministry of Finance, Mekeng stated that there was no problem when officials committed small amounts of corruption. This statement was made when discussing the alleged natural property ownership of former Ministry of Finance's Directorate General of Taxes Rafael Alun Trisambodo.

"Most of them eat haram money. If they eat small and small money, nothing. It eats illegal money so much that God is angry," he said at the time.

"That's the standard in the value of life. There's nothing in this world that becomes an angel but also don't be a true devil," continued Mekeng.