Palace: Jokowi Openly Meets Anyone, Including KPK Leaders

Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana emphasized that President Joko Widodo is open to meeting anyone, including the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

This was conveyed by Ari in response to the statement by the Chairman of the KPK, Nawawi Pomolango, who had stated that it was difficult for his staff to meet President Joko Widodo and was never invited to the Palace to discuss eradicating corruption.

"In principle, the President is open to meeting anyone, including the KPK leadership," said Ari Dwipayana as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, September 16.

Ari Dwipayana said that although he was open to meeting anyone, the President wanted to respect and maintain the KPK as an independent institution.

"Do not let meetings between the President and the KPK be misunderstood as an intervention," he said.

Ari said that so far the coordination between the government and the KPK for corruption prevention and eradication has been going well. The government through the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs has carried out intensive coordination with the KPK.