"Corruption is an extraordinary crime that has to be dealt with extraordinarily," the president said in a state of the nation address in a plenary session of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR), House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representative Council (DPD) here on Thursday to commemorate the Nation`s Independence Day August 17.
President Jokowi said democracy, strong Pancasila ideology, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) and spirit of mutual cooperation have to be supported with good governance.
The drive to free Indonesia from the trap of corruption, which is a betrayal of the people`s trust damaging the country`s economic pivotal strength has to be intensified, he said.
"This year, the government has issued a National Strategy for the Prevention of Corruption through a Presidential Regulation No 54 of 2018 as the direction of the national policy with focus on prevention of corruption," he said.
KPK is an independent agency specially established in a bid to eradicate corruption which is rampant in the country. The agency has gained high reputation after the arrests of high ranking officials including former ministers, governors and heads of district administration , law makers and business leaders.
The government also will continue the initiative of Saber Pungli (eradication of illegal levies) Task Force. So far until the first half of 2018, the Saber Pungli Task Force had carried out 2,911 caught red handed operations against illegal levies.
Reporting by Dewanto Samodro
Editing by Andi Abdussalam
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
