Mahfud Meets Jokowi, Discusses Corruption Perception Index

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister of Law, Politics, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that he had held a meeting with President Joko"Jokowi" Widodo and a number of his staff at the Jakarta State Palace. Mahfud explained that one of the crucial topics discussed in the meeting was Luhut Pandjaitan, whom both Mahfud and Jokowi considered to have issued controversial statements that affected Indonesia's declining corruption perception index.

"It was mentioned in the meeting that [Luhut’s statement] had affected the drop in the [corruption perception index] score. [Luhut's comment] gave the impression as though the government does not support sting operations (OTT)," said Mahfud MD after meeting the President on Monday, February 6, 2023.

Jokowi reportedly summoned the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairperson Firli Bahuri, and Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin to the meeting earlier today.

As previously reported, Transparency International Indonesia (TII) published its corruption perception index score, in which Indonesia dropped from 38 points in 2021 to 34 points in 2022. Prior to the publishing of this report, a number of State Ministers had issued controversial statements that gave the impression that the government does not fully back the corruption eradication efforts in Indonesia.

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian had also previously made a public statement that urges authorities to not investigate regional leaders. Tito's and Luhut's statements attracted strong criticism from the public. 

Mahfud said that he will be meeting the President again in the next three days to invite state officials and organizations that actively contribute to the country’s corruption eradication efforts. 

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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