PKS Urges Jokowi To Apologize Because Two Ministers Are Entangled In Corruption Cases

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has urged President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to apologize to the public because two ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, namely the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Edhy Prabowo and the Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Juliari were caught in a hand-catching operation (OTT) and were declared as the suspect receiving the bribe.

According to the Chairman of the DPP PKS Mardani Ali Sera, this request felt necessary because Jokowi was the party who appointed them as ministers. In addition, Jokowi's statement that he had reminded his ministers not to be corrupt was deemed insufficient.

"Pak Jokowi, as the appointed president, needs to apologize to the public and cannot just state 'from the start, don't be corrupt'," Mardani said in a written statement to journalists, Monday, December 7.

Not only urging Jokowi to apologize, he also reminded the former governor of DKI Jakarta to review a number of policies for handling COVID-19. Including regarding the provision of immunity or legal immunity for state officials who carry out their duties related to handling pandemics.

"Pak Jokowi needs to be vigilant and review a number of policies for handling COVID-19 such as granting immunity in Perppu Number 1 of 2020," he said.

"Concerns and input from the public need to be heard more deeply, about the points of immunity that are in question. Like the costs incurred cannot be said to be a loss to the state until all actions, including decisions taken based on the regulation, cannot be challenged," he added.

Furthermore, although his party appreciates the work of the KPK, the anti-graft commission is deemed necessary to develop this case to various other aspects of procurement such as the procurement of medical devices, personal protective equipment, assistance to the community, to SMEs and others. "Breaking down to the roots," he said.

Previously, the KPK had appointed Social Minister (Menos) Juliari Peter Batubara to be named a KPK suspect in connection with the alleged corruption case of social assistance (bansos) packages of food, for the handling of COVID-19 in the Jabodetabek area.

Apart from Juliari, the KPK has named two other suspects, namely MJS and AW, as the official commitment maker at the Ministry of Social Affairs, as suspects who received bribes. Then, the suspects AIM and HS as the bribes.

KPK Chairman Filri Bahuri said this case began when Juliari appointed two commitment-making officials (PPK) Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi in implementing this project by directly appointing partners.

"And it is suspected that it was agreed to set a fee for each work package that partners must deposit to the Ministry of Social Affairs through MJS," said Firli.

In addition, the fee for each COVID-19 social assistance package agreed by Matheus and Adi is IDR 10,000 from a value of IDR 300 thousand.

Matheus and Adi then made work contracts with several suppliers as partners for providing social assistance in May-November 2020. The partners chosen were AIM, HS, and PT Rajawali Parama Indonesia alias PT RPI which allegedly belonged to MJS.

"The appointment of PT RPI as one of the partners is suspected of being known by JPB and approved by AW," he said.

In the first phase of the distribution of social assistance, a fee of IDR 12 billion is suspected. Matheus gave around Rp. 8.2 billion in cash to Juliari through Adi.

Then, at the second stage of the distribution of social assistance, a fee of around Rp.8.8 billion was collected from October to December 2020. In total Juliari received around Rp. 17 billion which was then allocated for his personal needs.

Apart from Juliari, a few days earlier, the KPK had also named Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo as a suspect in receiving bribes related to the export of lobster fries or seeds.

In response to the determination of the suspect, President Jokowi has emphasized that he will not protect anyone involved in criminal acts of corruption. "I will not protect those involved in corruption. I have reminded the Indonesian cabinet ministers not to be corrupt," he said, quoted from the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Sunday, December 6.

Jokowi believes that the anti-rasuah institution will work professionally in handling cases of suspected corruption in social assistance (bansos) of the food packages for COVID-19 treatment in Jabodetabek.

"We all believe that the KPK works in a transparent, open manner, works well, professionally and the government will continue to consistently support efforts to prevent and eradicate corruption," he said.