•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   

Indonesia’s two largest Muslim organizations criticized over the weekend at the country’s feeble attempts to eradicate corruption, specifically singling out the failure of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Corruption Eradication Commission to address the issue.

Hasyim Muzadi, who leads the 40-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama, said the commission, also known as the KPK, did not live up to what NU and Muhammadiyah, another influential Muslim organization, had expected when the KPK was first established.

What the two groups had envisioned was a national movement led personally by the president with regard to strategies, Hasyim said.

“Corruption in Indonesia has become too big a problem to be fought by a single commission,” Hasyim said on Saturday. “It must be dealt with through a national movement led directly by the president. So far, we’ve been catching [a few] corrupters but not eradicating corruption.”

Hasyim was speaking after signing a joint statement with Muhammadiyah, which boasts of 28 million members, calling for an emphasis on national interests, not political interests.

“The fact is, the nation seems to be faced with problems that are too difficult to solve,” said Rozak Saleh, secretary general of Muhammadiyah, reading from the joint statement.

“All [the country’s] potential, energy and commitment must be directed toward building Indonesia as an advanced, just, prosperous, respected and sovereign country as per the ideals of independence.”

Speaking outside of the KPK headquarters, both organizations agreed to jump-start their initiative to create a national antigraft movement.

Hasyim also called for the launching of a campaign promoting “ halal living” that would cover broader aspects of national life. Antara