DPR Leader From Azis Syamsuddin, Setya Novanto Becomes A Corruption Suspect, Formappi Alludes To Integrity

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JAKARTA - Researcher of the Indonesian Parliamentary Concerned Community Forum (Formappi) Lucius Karus said that the involvement of the DPR RI leadership in corruption cases, as experienced by the Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament, Azis Syamsuddin, was not due to taking advantage of his position.

Opportunities for corruption to occur because those who sit as members of the council and leaders of legislative institutions do not have integrity.

"I think this is more about the integrity factor of someone who has had problems from the start," Lucius told reporters quoted on Monday, September 27.

Unfortunately, this integrity factor has never been a serious matter to be considered by political parties when determining someone to sit as the leader of the DPR RI. So, when he was in office, he was even entangled in a corruption case like what happened to Azis Syamsuddin and the former chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Setya Novanto.

In addition, Lucius also highlighted the relationship between parties and cadres who want to advance to become members or leaders of the DPR. He said, most political parties prioritize proximity and financial factors rather than honesty and integrity. Thus, this pragmatic relationship actually leads to the involvement of certain figures in corrupt practices.

"Therefore, I think it is important to pay attention to in the future so that the integrity factor must be the main requirement in the recruitment or selection process for political figures who are installed for certain positions, both in political parties and in government institutions," he said.

"If this integrity matter is ignored, in the future we will be more and more routinely witnessing institutional leaders from political party cadres who are suspects and convicted of corruption," he added.

For information, there are two DPR RI leaders who have been named suspects in corruption cases by the KPK besides Azis Syamsuddin. The first and most attention-grabbing is Setya Novanto.

The former chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives was named a suspect by the KPK in the e-KTP mega-corruption case that cost the state up to IDR 2.3 trillion.

He was proven to have abused his position and position while serving as chairman of the Golkar Party faction to conduct budget discussions. Not only that, Novanto also introduced entrepreneur Andi Agustinus or Andi Narogong with certain parties to facilitate the e-KTP budgeting process.

In this case, he was proven to have received a total of 7.3 million US dollars, with details of 3.5 million US dollars given through his nephew, Irvanto Pambudi Cahyo and 1.8 million and 2 million US dollars given through a privately owned company called Made Oka. Masagung.

Besides Novanto, there is also the name of Taufik Kurniawan, who served as Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the 2014-2019 period. He was named a suspect in 2018 related to the Special Allocation Fund (DAK) case after receiving a bribe from the Kebumen Regent for the 2016-2021 period Yahya Fuad.

Meanwhile, Azis Syamsuddin was named a suspect for allegedly giving bribes to a former KPK investigator, Stepanus Robin Pattuju. He is suspected of giving bribes together with former chairman of the Golkar Party Youth Force (AMPG) Aliza Gunado to secure the alleged corruption case of the Special Allocation Fund (DAK) in Central Lampung.

The money allegedly given to Stepanus reached Rp. 3.1 billion out of a total of Rp. 4 billion which was the initial agreement.