July 12, 2016 edition

BENNY Kabur Harman never imagined what he said at a fast-breaking event at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters on June 28, would be used against I Putu Sudiartana, a party colleague in the legal affairs commission at the House of Representatives (DPR). Speaking before KPK leaders and dozens of commission members, the Democrat Party politician strongly supported the KPK's many sting operations carried out over the past month. "Whoever is guilty must be caught," Benny said at the event two weeks ago.
Benny's candid comment was greeted with applause from the guests, including Putu Sudiartana. Before the event ended, DPR members posed for photos with KPK leaders. Putu asked to have his photo taken with KPK Chairman Agus Rahardjo.

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June 28, 2016 edition

FAYAKHUN Andriadi still recalls his conversation with Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja (Ahok) Purnama at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on May 21. Together with Golkar Chairman Setya Novanto, they discussed Jakarta's upcoming local election. "Bro, you shouldn't be overconfident. Formal verification is just a waste of energy," Fayakhun said last week.
Ahok's supporters had by then nearly succeeded in collecting 1 million ID cards as tokens of support for his independent candidacy. Golkar, which recently selected Setya as its chairman, plans to throw its support behind the incumbent governor. Despite Ahok's high approval ratings, Fayakhun reminded his colleagues not to count their eggs before they hatched.

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June 21, 2016 edition

COME in, To," Gen. Badrodin Haiti told Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian. The current National Police chief invited in Tito who was waiting outside. Around midday last Thursday at his office, South Jakarta, Badrodin met with the sole candidate selected by President Joko Widodo to replace him. Badrodin, whom Tempo was then interviewing, greeted his future replacement warmly. "Well, here he is," Badrodin said.
Badrodin, who will retire this July, proceeded to chat with Tito, recalling their time at the Sawah Besar police sector in Jakarta when Badrodin was its chief and Tito his deputy. When Badrodin later became the Banten region police chief, Tito, again, was police chief at the Serang precinct. When Badrodin was installed as the Central Sulawesi police chief, Tito was assigned special duties to handle the conflict in Poso. "Pak Tito has been tested, has a wide-ranging network and is accepted by the public as well as within the police force," Badrodin said.

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June 14, 2016 edition

F.X. Hadi Rudyatmo and Basuki (Ahok) Tjahaja Purnama met last week in a quiet corner of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri's residence in Central Jakarta. The Solo mayor and the Jakarta governor were guests at an event commemorating the three-year anniversary of the death of Megawati's late husband, Taufiq Kiemas. President Joko Widodo, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and former Vice President Boediono were also in attendance.
Ahok and Hadi, or Rudy, as he is known, began talking seriously after President Jokowi left the dinner. At first, they discussed developments on the Jakarta Bay reclamation case currently being investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

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June 7, 2016 edition

THE WhatsApp messages came in one after the other on Muhammad Yusuf Hasibuan's cell phone. The aide to Rokan Hilir Regent Suyatno began to worry as the messages suddenly turned from friendly to threatening.
More shockingly, the sender claimed to be Muhammad Nazaruddin, the former general treasurer of the Democrat Party currently imprisoned for corruption.

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May 31, 2016 edition

Ahead of President Joko Widodo's visit to Russia two weeks ago, the Indonesian embassy in Moscow hosted frequent visits from top Rosoboronexport officials. The Russian company, which is the nation's sales agent for defense equipment, sent seven representatives to meet Ambassador Wahid Supriyadi and bring him an important message.
One government official said they urged him to get the signing of the Sukhoi-35 fighter aircraft purchase included as one of the items in a memorandum of understanding to be signed in the presence of President Jokowi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Their request was very odd as, from the outset, such an agenda was never discussed," he said.

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May 24, 2016 edition

RIDWAN Bae and I Ketut Sudikerta had to wait outside the entrance to Setya Novanto's villa at Mulia Resort, Nusa Dua Bali last Tuesday. The chairmen of Golkar's Southeast Sulawesi and Bali chapters wanted to meet their host, the incoming Golkar Party chairman. Setya was doing the rounds, greeting all the guests who were paying him a visit. Not all were able to enter, some were forced to queue up outside the villa's entrance. Two people close to Setya, Nurul Arifin and Roem Kono, were acting as visitors' guides.
Yorrys Raweyai was also there, accompanying Setya while various media people interviewed the latter. In his villa, costing Rp250 million a night, Setya was assembling Golkar's core management team. Roem Kono revealed many people had come proposing various names. "That's normal. After he won, of course lots of people will come," the chairman of the Kinship and Mutual Help Council told Tempo.

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