TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The graft practices exposed in the provision of the Alquran project points out the weaknesses in the supervision of political parties and misconduct of their members. Parties cannot avoid responsibility and consider such misconduct as an isolated incident. The graft scandal implicating Zulkarnaen Djabar, a member of the House of Representatives’ (DPR) Religious Commission, is proof that parties have failed to build a system that prevents their members from committing graft. As a member of the parliament whose task was to supervise the Religious Ministry’s programs and performance, Zulkaranen was instead busy with his shady practices. Zulkarnaen easily passed and redirected the Alquran provision project in the 2011 and 2012 fiscal year to a company belonging to his son, Dendy Prasetya. Dendy is the owner of Adhi Aksara Abadi Indonesia and Sinergi Pustaka Indonesia. Zulkarnaen’s involvement turned out to be more extensive than previously reported. Wiretapping conducted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that the Alquran project scandal also involved Fadh A. Rafiq, Golkar Party’s Regional Development and Decentralization Department administrator. Fadh and Dendy were actively communicating with various code words. Recorded conversations revealed that the project’s ‘profit’ was to be distributed to legislators, officials at the Religious Ministry and political parties. The codes used by Fadh and Dendy clearly show that they have been working together for a long time. Both are actively involved in the youth organization, which is affiliated with Golkar. In the organization, Fadh is the chairman while Dendy is the secretary-general. Therefore, Golkar should take the responsibility for its members’ graft scandal. The party, bearing the logo of a banyan tree, should not drop the matter because its members’ actions, both during budget discussion and approval, represent Golkar. Pretending to have no knowledge of what the members are doing is the same as allowing corruption to be committed. Political parties must be proactive and not hesitant in reprimanding members who are involved in graft scandals. As the party that received the spotlight for the Alquran project scandal, Golkar should assist with the investigation conducted by the KPK. Golkar, for example, should immediately conduct an internal hearing on the people who are allegedly involved. Political parties in Indonesia should take lessons from political parties in other countries. The Communist Party’s action in China early this year may be used as an example on how political parties fight against corruption. The Communist Party in China introduced eight new policies for all its members. The policies stipulated that, among others, each cadre must be aware of conflict of interest and that senior cadres must monitor business activities conducted by their children and spouses. Lastly, politburo members must report their families’ wealth regularly. The fight against corruption is a long-term goal. Political parties must be involved in building a system that can prevent their members from misusing the state budget. Growing discipline is important in the effort to eradicate graft practices in the country. Without discipline, the image of Indonesia’s political parties will continue to be bleak, if not worsen. The will only see them lose more credibility in the public eye.