TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto, head of public relations division of the Indonesian National Police's (Polri) Public Information Division, said the agency appreciates the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) assessment that Polri is the most corrupt institution in Indonesia. Polri, Agus said, thanks KPK for the criticism.

Agus said the criticism would be used as a motivation for the police force to improve its performance quality. "Please criticize us; as long as it does not harm nor undermine the credibility of the police," said Agus, Tuesday, September 17 at the police headquarters.

Polri, Agus said, is not uncomfortable with KPK's earlier assessment. However, he asked critics to provide their basis of criticism in the form of a valid data if they really intend to improve the agency. Agus also questioned the data that was used to criticize the institution.

"If [KPK's] data came from the Transparency International Indonesia, we have already confirmed it [when TII criticized us]. This means that [KPK] did not have new data."

Earlier, KPK Deputy Chairman Adnan Pandu Praja said that the Indonesian police force is one of the most corrupt institutions in Indonesia. KPK also considered The House of Representatives as a corrupt institution. Adnan Pandu said that he cited the data from Transparency International.

FAIZ NASHRILLAH