"I don`t want to make it difficult for the president. I have submitted my resignation so that I can focus on the legal charges," Andi Malaranggeng said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Two days before the anniversary of the International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9, Indonesians are shocked by (another) sad news with regard to corruption eradication in the country.

This time, it is the resignation of the Sports Minister, Andi Malaranggeng, following the Corruption Eradication Commission`s (KPK) decision to label him as a suspect of a corruption case.

"I don`t want to make it difficult for the president. I have submitted my resignation so that I can focus on the legal charges," said Andi, on Friday.

Andi, who is part of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s party (Democrat Party), is a suspect in a case pertaining to the procurement of goods and services in the development of Hambalang sports centre in the Bogor district, West Java.

An audit conducted by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) states that the development cost of Hambalang sports centre in the Bogor district of West Java has increased, resulting in state losses of Rp246.6 billion.

The anti-graft body announced on December 6, 2012, that it has banned Andi from travelling overseas, since investigations are being carried out with regard to the Hambalang sports complex corruption case.

"It is true that the KPK has sent a letter to the director general of immigration (ministry of justice and human rights) to impose a travel ban on AAM, AZM and MAT from PT AK," said KPK deputy chief commissioner, Bambang Widjojanto.

However, the anti-graft body is not going to arrest Andi. "A person cannot be arrested until the process of questioning (witnesses and suspects) is completed," said Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission, Abraham Samad.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has accepted Andi's resignation.

"I have accepted the minister`s resignation," said the president.

Meanwhile Secretary General of the Democrat Party, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, said he appreciates the minister`s decision. However, he also supports the KPK`s investigation with regard to the graft case involving the minister.

"Andi has been calm in his approach. I hope the investigation proceeds smoothly," said the youngest son of President Yudhoyono.

Dark Cloud Above The Democrat Party

Andi Malaranggeng adds to the number of Democrat members facing corruption-related charges. Former treasurer of the party, Nazaruddin, was sentenced to four years and ten months in jail after he was proven guilty of taking bribes worth Rp4.6 billion from PT Duta Graha Indah (DGI), for the construction project of Southeast Asia Games Athlete Village in the Riau province. The Democrat Party's lawmaker, Angelina Sondakh, has also been dragged into the case, although her trial is still in progress.

The Democrat Party hit another bumpy road when the anti-graft body labelled the party`s member of board of patrons, Hartati Murdaya, as a suspect in a bribery case involving Buol Head of District, Amran Batalipu.

According to a survey conducted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Democrat Party is gradually losing voters` confidence due to several corruption cases involving the party`s members.

"There has been an 8.25 percent decline in its popularity rating," said CSIS`s researcher, Philips J. Vermonte.

However, other parties have not been able to gain the support of the public.

"In fact, there has been a decline in the popularity rating not only for the Democrat Party, but for all the parties. This confirms and implies that the people's trust in political parties has decreased," he said.

If the survey's respondents are divided into three groups with regard to the government's performance - those who are satisfied, those who believe there is no progress and those who feel there has been a decline - the satisfied group accounts for the largest number of people.

"The Democrat Party can win the next elections if it is able to enhance the economic growth and eradicate corruption," he said.

The CSIS survey has put the Golkar Party in second place, with 10.5 percent of the respondents in support of the party. The Indonesian Democracy Party-Struggle (PDIP) is in the third place, at 7.3 percent.

The Nation's Awakening Party (PKB), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Greater Indonesia Party (Gerindra), the United Development Party (PPP) and the People's Mandate Party (PAN) witnessed a decline in the people's support (ranging between 0.54 percent and 4.78 percent). The People's Conscience Party (Hanura) saw the biggest decline in the public's support and got the approval of only 0.7 percent of the respondents.

The CSIS survey was answered by 2,117 respondents in 23 provinces. Ten provinces with population lower than one percent (of the country`s total population) were not covered by the survey as the people's opinions there would have made a minimal difference to the survey's results.(*)

Reporter: Amie Fenia Arimbi
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012