Hopes also ride high on the anti-graft body's future commissioners being able to promote preventive efforts in combating corruption in Indonesia, Kalla told journalists after receiving Vice President-elect Ma'ruf Amin here on Thursday.
Kalla made the statement in connection with the registration process for commissioner candidates at the State Secretariat Office in Jakarta opened from June 17 to July 4 at around 4 p.m. local time.
As of Wednesday, the KPK commissioner selection team had received 191 applicants, including two incumbent commissioners. The team members will make an announcement of the commissioner candidates on July 11.
Corruption has, since decades, turned out to be a grave menace for Indonesia, and regional leaders, ministers, and members of parliament have emerged as corruption convicts.
Since the anti-graft body's initiation in 2002, its commissioners and investigators have striven to eradicate corruption crimes, but in the line of their noble duty, they are oftentimes faced with security risks.
On January 9, 2019, KPK commissioners -- Agus Raharjo and Laode Muhammad Syarif -- were subject to bomb attacks.
Raharjo's house was believed to be the target of a bomb threat on Jan 9 by unidentified people, who placed a bag with pipes inside, but the police investigators had failed to find any explosive materials in the bag.
On the same day, two cocktail bombs were also targeted at Syarif's residence, though the home-made bombs did not cause any damage to the house.
Raharjo lives in the Graha Indah housing complex, Jatiasih, Bekasi City, West Java Province, while Syarif resides on 42 C South Kalibata Street, Pancoran, South Jakarta.
Despite the fact that the two KPK commissioners and their family members were unscathed by the bomb attacks, these crimes have brought back the sad memory of the acid attack on Novel Baswedan, KPK's senior and respected investigator, on April 11, 2017.
The assault, which took place when Baswedan was heading home after performing Fajr, or the Dawn prayer, at a mosque near his house, had harmed his eyes, necessitating medical treatment in Jakarta and Singapore.
The acid attack was reportedly launched by two motorcyclists, but they managed to escape and are still at large until now. This retired police officer had joined the anti-graft agency in 2007 and since then had been frequently terrorized and attacked.
Corruption was also a hot topic during the presidential election campaign and debate. Incumbent President Joko Widodo's contender, Prabowo Subianto, opined that the Indonesian people have had their fill of corruption and unfair treatment.
"Why? Because much of Indonesia's wealth has been taken out of the country," Subianto stated while addressing several thousand of his supporters listening intently to one of his campaign speeches. Related news: Next anti-graft commissioners must possess managerial skills: Jokowi
Related news: Romahurmuziy's personal staff Amin Nuryadi receives KPK's summons
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Fransiska N, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
