Rp8 Billion Competition to Arrest Harun Masiku, PDIP Calls Defamation of KPK

Ketua DPP PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) Deddy Sitorus (Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the DPP PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) Deddy Sitorus criticised the competition created by Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruarar Sirait (Ara) who offered a reward of Rp 8 billion to the public who managed to catch fugitive Harun Masiku.

According to Deddy, the competition insulted the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as an anti-corruption institution. Deddy stated that the KPK should have protested Ara's actions.

‘What Ara did was actually a blasphemy against the KPK. This means that the KPK is considered untrustworthy to carry out its duties, so Ara incites the people with the lure of Rp8 billion to catch KPK fugitives,’ Deddy told reporters on Friday, 29 November.

Deddy considered that the competition showed Maruarar Sirait's arrogant attitude. He also linked Ara's previous controversial statement regarding the Jakarta governor election, in which Ara said that non-Muslim voters would switch to the Ridwan Kamil-Suswono pair after Anies Baswedan expressed his support for the Pramono Anung-Rano Karno pair proposed by PDIP. The statement eventually led to a report to the police.

‘Maruarar Sirait's arrogant and conceited attitude can be seen in his various actions, including this contest. The SARA issue and other actions led to Pramono-Rano's victory in DKI,’ said Deddy.

The competition raised by Maruarar Sirait came into the spotlight after a 1-minute 21-second video circulated on social media X. In the video, Maruarar mentioned that PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto had sent him a book entitled Politik Itu Suci by his father, Sabam Sirait.

‘I haven't received the book Politik Itu Suci yet. Please yes, we will receive it, from Mas Hasto and I am very happy if I can get it and make me even more enthusiastic,’ said Maruarar in the video.

Maruarar then stated that the book would further motivate him to mobilise his network to find Harun Masiku, who is still at large.

‘I will use that energy to help and mobilise my network, because there is a big case that I see will involve big people in this republic, which involves Harun Masiku,’ said Maruarar.

He added, ‘Who the hell is Harun Masiku, why can't he be arrested for years? I will give a bonus of Rp8 billion to those who can catch him, my personal money. So that the spirit, so that in this country those who are immune to the law can be caught, and I use the blessing from God to eradicate corruption in Indonesia.’