SKK-Migas to Cooperate With KPK

Jakarta (Antara) - The Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKK-Migas) said it would cooperate with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in preventing corruption in the oil and gas business sector. "We will cooperate with the KPK because efforts to fight corruption will need not only prosecution but also prevention," newly named SKK-Migas Head Johannes Widjonarko said after the installation of a number of echelon I and echelon II officials at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) here on Thursday. However, he said, both sides had not yet discussed in detail the mechanism of their cooperation. "We are still waiting for inputs and will make adjustment on our regulations. We feel we have not any guarantee yet on what could happen with regard to crimes." Johannes admitted he had no knowledge about Kernel Oil, a foreign firm which was suspected to be involved in giving bribe money amounting to US$700,000 to former SKK-Migas chief Rudi Rubiandini who is now under the KPK detention. "I do not know the case yet for sure as it also becomes the task of KPK to investigate," he said. He did not yet know either what further action would be taken against the Singapore company if it was proven to be involved. "We have to look at its legal process because we could not punish it at will. We would study how far is its involvement with the SKK-Migas. We have to study it first," Johannes said. (*)