Students from E Java Reach Jakarta by Bicycle
- Oscar Ferri
VIVAnews – Some students from Jember, East Java, have travelled hundreds of kilometers to Jakarta by riding bicycles. The purpose is to deliver their contribution for the new building of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
The students under the Muhammadiyah Student Association of Jember arrived at the KPK building on Wednesday around 10 am. The nine students were then welcomed by one of the leaders of KPK, Busyro Muqqodas, and KPK spokesperson, Johan Budi SP.
The students handed over the coins they collected in a large water container to the Donation Post of KPK new building. Afterward, members of the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) counted up the contribution given by the students worth Rp206,800.
The group left for Jakarta by riding six old-fashioned bicycles on Sunday. “It took us 11 days [to reach Jakarta],” said the group leader, Agus.
The issue of KPK's new building surfaced after Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR) refused to approve the funding for KPK’s new building despite report from KPK leaders saying that the current building is no longer suitable to accommodate all of its employees of around 700 people.
KPK has proposed the budget for a new building since 2008. The latest proposal was submitted last March. The reason of KPK leaders is that the current building on Jalan HR Rasuna Said can only accommodate up to 350 people.
However, DPR went on saying no to the proposal although the Indonesian Finance Minister gave nod to the proposal.
Chairman of Commission III of DPR, I Gede Pasek Suardika, acknowledged that he cannot force all factions to approve the construction of KPK’s new building.
DPR's rejection over the matter had angered the public. Some people decided to build donation posts for KPK’s new building.
