1st July 2008. Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said his ministry was ready to take whatever action was necesary in coordination with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) following Monday`s arrest of a legislator dealing with transportation affairs in a bribery case. Speaking to the press after attending a function to observe the National Police`s 62nd anniversary at the National Monument (Monas) square here on Tuesday, Djamal said he had contacted KPK chief Antasari Azhar to offer his ministry`s cooperation in investigating the case.
"The Transportation Ministry is ready to do whatever it is asked to do, and to give information in accordance with the results of KPK`s investigation," the minister said. The KPK arrested the lawmaker, identified as Bulyan Royan, at Plaza Senayan in South Jakarta on Monday for allegedly taking bribes of US$60,000 and 10,000 from an unknown party.
The bribe was believed to be connected with the procurement of patrol boats for the directorate general of sea transportation at the Transportation Ministry. The KPK was still investigating the case and so far there was still no information on the source of the money. Djamal said he would at this point not make any speculation on the possible involvement of Transportation Ministry`s officials in the case. "We have not yet discussed the matter. It is still an allegation and we still do not know what actually happened," the minister said.
Meanwhile, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Agung Laksono said he fully supported the KPK`s efforts in investigating the bribery case involving a House member. Laksono told the press at the legislative building here on Tuesday he deplored the involvement of a House member in the case, saying the legislator should have taken a lesson from what happened with other lawmakers in similar cases in the recent past.
"We really deplore cases like these because they tarnish the names of the political parties concerned and of the legislative body as well," the House speaker said. He said the legal handling of the case should be fully left to the KPK, and the DPR`s Ethics Council (BK DPR) could take up the matter later. (*)
