Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has reminded the leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to abide by the constitution and the law in carrying out their duties.

"An official should abide by the constitution and the law," Kalla noted here on Monday.

The vice president reminded all state officials of their oath to obey the law.

"The oath of an official, including the president, governor, and minister, is to obey the constitution and laws," the vice president stated.

Agus Rahardjo, chairman of the KPK, had earlier stated here on Sunday that he would resign if the DPR finally decided to revise the law on KPK.

"I am myself ready to resign if the law is revised. I will be the first person to resign" he affirmed at a meeting of interfaith leaders to support the fight against corruption at the office of the Muhammadiyah Islamic organization.

He affirmed that more concrete steps need to be taken to fight corruption in the country as the situation has become critical.

On the occasion, Agus expressed gratitude to the religious leaders present at the event for their support to the institution that he leads.

"The KPK is thankful for the support from religious leaders of Muhammadiyah as well as from Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholicism, and Konghucu faiths. Your stance is clear that the revision will weaken and not strengthen the KPK," he pointed out.

In response to Agus statement, Muhammadiyah general chairman Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak pledged that all religious councils would stand by the KPK.

"Religious councils are ready to fully support the strengthening of the KPK. We can make assurance that the revision must be stopped, so that Pak (Mr) Agus need not resign," he remarked.

Four points currently being discussed under the revision of the KPK law are limiting the anti-graft agencys authority to conduct wiretapping activities, to drop a case, to recruit its own investigators, and to establish an oversight committee.

The four points have been considered to weaken the KPK, thereby resulting in strong opposition being increasing voiced by anti-corruption activists, academicians, and religious leaders against the revision. The government has been urged to reject the revision.

The revision effort is led by the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and has been supported by six other party factions. Gerindra, Demokrat, and PKS are the only three political parties to have rejected the revision.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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