House and KPK Put Behind Days of Disharmony: House Speaker

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR) and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) are looking to put behind days of disharmony and tension in institutional relations between them, said the new House Speaker.

On Monday the new House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo said the KPK has performed well in its fight against corruption.

"The KPK has already done well but we still hope to see better performance in battling corruption," Bambang said at the KPK office where he was invited to attend KPK launching its annual report and a ceremony of "KPK Mendengar" (KPK Listening).

"We at DPR give high appreciation for KPK submitting report openly through public meeting and the launch of "KPK Mendengar," he said.

Bambang was a member of a DPR Special Committee for Inquiry on KPK, which KPK refused to recognize. KPK rejected its summon for a hearing calling the committee illegal.

The Committee was formed after KPK implicated tens of lawmakers including some of the committee members in a big scandal of corruption in the procurement of electronic identity card (e-KTP). KPK even arrested Bambang`s predecessor Setya Novanto, now facing corruption court.

The change in the DPR leadership improved relations between the two institutions. Bambang has declared he quit the Special Committee for KPK Inquiry and the Committee is expected to be dissolved soon.

Bambang said in a meeting with KPK leaders, the Law Commission III of the DPR gave much input for KPK.

"The Commission III also gave much input, certainly positive criticism and we asked KPK to maintain good or improve performance," he said.

He said his first step after he was named DPR speaker, was to patch up broken relations with KPK.

"I have no much time to improve DPR`s performance, improve its image and to win back the public trust. One reason for the public attacks on DPR is poor relations with KPK. Therefore, the first step I have taken was to improve the relations," he said.

One way of ironing out the problem is by ending the squabble between the Special Inquiry Committee and KPK and help the Committee speed up providing good input for KPK, he said.

"Well, we have to maintain good relations as KPK is not the only one responsible for fighting corruption. It is the war of all stakeholders in this republic including DPR. We have to be aware of that. We have to go hand in hand to create Indonesia free of corruption," he said.

On the same occasion, KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo said, "Today KPK issued its annual report and invited all stakeholders both legislative, judicature and executive bodies."

In addition to publishing the annual report, KPK launched what it called "KPK Listening".

"Our purpose is to create good communications. Therefore now we are listening more to get input from those in the Legislative, Judicature and Executive bodies," Agus said.

ANTARA