KPK spokesman Johan Budi told ANTARA News here on Friday, the KPK had already received a report about the purchase of the planes and "we are now still studying it."
He would not tell much when asked who had given the report to KPK saying only it had come from members of the public. "We only received the report about the purchase of MA60 planes yesterday (Thursday, May 12)," he said.
A parliament member, Alvin Lie, said if indeed there were allegations of price mark-up, collusion and corruption in the procurement of the planes they must be explained to the public and legal action had to be take against those involved.
"If indeed corruption and collusion occurred they must be investigated," he said at a dialog on "Questioning Merpati MA60 Purchase" at the parliament building.
Alvin said to know exactly the cause of the crash of a MA60 in Papua last weekend, people had better wait for the results of investigation by the National Committee on Transportation Safety (KNKT).
"Give KNKT an opportunity (to investigate it)," he said.
He admitted that the crash had triggered public questions regarding the purchase of the plane while Indonesia is able to produce the same type of planes by itself.
"We have IPTN (aircraft maker) that produces CN-235 which has been used in many countries," he said.
Alvin said the controversy emerged because the plane from China crashed. If it did not crash the public would not pay attention to anything relating to the plane, he said. Even if a CN-235 crashed all may be blamed, he added.
He said however that buying a plane is not like buying a flip flop. "Even when we buy a motorcycle we would ask a lot of questions such as regarding its spare parts. So would we when we purchase a plane," he said.
According to information that he received Indonesia had decided to buy the plane upon financial considerations and estimation on the number of passengers to be served. He said the purchase was made with government funds to be repaid by Merpati in installments.
Regarding FAA certification Alvin Lie said that FAA is equal to Indonesia`s certification agency. FAA certification is needed by planes that would fly to the US or serve US routes or companies that would sell planes to parties in the US.
There are many kinds of certification. "Europe has and so do Australia and Indonesia. FAA certification is not a must but minimally there must be certification from countries concerned. It is impossible for a plane to be able to be sold to other countries unless there is certification from the producing country," he said.
(T.V002/H-YH/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
