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ForeFormer Minister of Forestry MS Kaban on Sunday vigorously denied accusations made by green activists that he and Riau Governor Rusli Zainal had engaged in corruption and accepted kickbacks.

Activists from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) filed a report with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Friday alleging that Kaban and Rusli received bribes when issuing permits for industrial plantation concessions to PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper.

“The accusations made by the Walhi activists are stupid and show they are not qualified,” he said on Sunday.

Kaban claimed the accusations had no substance and Walhi had not presented any evidence to support them.

He said Walhi’s report to the KPK actually revealed how little the activists actually understood about the issue, saying that the report had even made mistakes in referring to protected forests and conservation areas.

Kaban also dismissed allegations that he had received gratuities from Riau Andalan, adding that he did not own any shares in company and had not had any dealings with its owners.

“If I have taken gratuities, then show me the evidence,” he said. “If they can’t prove it, it means they have defamed me.”

Kaban said he was considering taking legal action against Walhi, adding that some lawyers had already told him that they would defend him.

However, he did say he was willing to give Walhi a chance to apologize.

“They are still young. They have creativity and desire to express themselves,” he said.

Meanwhile, Berry Nahdian Furqon, executive director of Walhi, said Kaban’s statements would not change Walhi’s position on the issue.

“We have very strong indications that [Kaban] was involved, and we have much evidence from the field,” he said.

Berry said Walhi had filed the report with the KPK as a last resort because the police investigation of the case had been suspended.

“We have high hopes that the KPK will be able to solve this case,” he added.

Some regional officials involved in the case, Berry said, had already been arrested by the KPK, which made Walhi even more convinced of Kaban’s involvement. Antara & Dessy Sagita