Beef Import Scandal Might Involve More PKS Members
The corruption scandal which led to the resignation last week of Luthfi Hasan Ishak, chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) - Indonesia's fourth-largest political party - is likely to make more victims in the party, and will put the Muslim-party in a negative light. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) stated that the corruption scandal might involve more people within the PKS, including the party’s new chairman, Anis Matta and Agriculture minister Suswono.
Last week, an assistant of Luthfi was arrested for accepting around US $100,000 from Indoguna Utama in exchange for benefits regarding the import of meet, a policy that is overseen by the Agriculture ministry.
The scandal comes at an awkward moment because political parties should show their best face in view of next year's elections. New party chairman Anis tried to defend the party's face by claiming that the beef import scandal was a set up, aimed at making the party look bad.
The PKS is one of the six coalition parties in Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's second United Indonesia Cabinet. Some voices are heard inside the PKS that call for a withdrawal from the cabinet.