Government critic appointed to presidential office post

Desy Nurhayati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 09/02/2008 10:19 AM  |  National

Government critic Denny Indrayana has been appointed presidential staff of legal affairs, just one year before President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ends his five-year term.

The President needed a special staff of legal affairs to help formulate presidential decrees and bills, State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said Monday.

"Denny is the right person because he is an expert in constitutional law. He has quite a good background and is capable of doing this job," Hatta said.

However, he did not elaborate on the reasons behind the appointment.

Denny, a constitutional law expert from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta, attained his doctoral degree at the University of Melbourne. He is well-known for his outspoken criticism of the government's efforts to combat corruption.

The post he takes up is a newly established one in the presidential office. Yudhoyono previously appointed Sardan Marbun as his special staff of legal affairs and corruption eradication.

With Denny taking up the new post, Marbun will hold the post of presidential staff of corruption eradication.

Marbun also serves as chief editor for Yudhoyono's Sambung Hati 9949 newsletter, which deals with the President's short message service, 9949.

Hatta did not say why Yudhoyono only appointed a staff of legal affairs four years after assuming office in 2004.

Denny said he decided to take up the post because he wanted to play a part in the government's programs as an insider.

"I considered many things before accepting this position. I've played enough roles as an outsider, so I decided to move in," he said at the presidential office.

"And if I decide to move in, it is President SBY I choose to work with, because his efforts to tackle corruption are better than those of previous presidents," said the director of UGM's Center for Anti-Corruption Analysis.

Denny said the country had seen a greater number of corruption cases being investigated during Yudhoyono's term, and the performance of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was improving.

"The KPK is more and more independent because it is given more space by the President," he added.

He said he hoped to contribute to advising the President about legal matters, including further amendments to the Constitution.

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