TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) criticized President Jokowi’s annual state speech addressed at the House of Representatives (DPR) headquarters today that asserted the government’s commitment to eradicating corruption.

“The government does not play around in eradicating corruption,” said the president.

The corruption watchdog highlighted the irony in the President’s statement, saying the government was also guilty in the bleak outcome of Indonesia’s battle against corruption.

“We would like to remind him that one of the elements that have created this bleak situation in the fight against corruption is the government itself,” said ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana on Friday, August 14.

The anti-graft researcher explained in terms of corruption the president had appointed a “troublesome” leader to spearhead the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), granted clemency for graft suspects, the unclear conclusion of Novel Baswedan’s case, and the revision of the KPK Law.

He also slammed the government’s promises that never came to fruition, such as the KPK Law’s in lieu of law. “[The promise] is just nonsense,” said the Indonesia Corruption Watch researcher.

Read: KPK Welcomes New Law Punishing Corruptors Up to Life in Prison

M ROSSENO AJI