Basuki: Don’t Politicize Rusty Bus Case!

As reported earlier, General Attorney’s Office on Monday (12/5) named suspect to former Head of Jakarta Transportation Department, Udar Pristono, over alleged corruption in the case of rusty TransJakarta bus procurement. Following the case, some parties urged Jakarta Governor Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo to also be responsible in the project worth Rp 1.1 trillion.

You know there are standards, why us to blame? There was budget holder, we’d gave (the budget) to them

Responding that, Jakarta Vice Governor Basuki T Purnama asked those parties not to politicize the case. “The case is being politicized. For instance, your employee bought something, you ordered it and bought and nice one. Then, the employee cheated you by buying unworthy product. How could you be the one arrested?” he said, Tuesday (5/13).

Basuki assessed that Jokowi was supposed to be angry because Jakarta Transportation Department has lied to him for purchasing product below standards that have been set. “ You know there are standards, why us to blame? There was budget holder, we’d gave (the budget) to them ,” he expressed.

Udar Pristono Named as Suspect in Budget Mark-Up Case

On the other hand, Basuki stated that he is ready to become a witness by the General Attorney’s Office investigators, even though he does not have the competence as a witness in this case. “The Inspectorate understands more. We do not know technical matters like that,” he uttered.

According to Basuki, Jakarta Provincial Government hands over the case fully to the authorities. “Pristono’s status is still a civil servant,” he told.