State officials must reject bribes, VP says

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President M Jusuf Kalla has asked state officials not to accept bribes because it would disadvantage themselves and the country.

"I ask state officials, government officials, no to accept bribes," the vice president said here on Friday at a gathering with the press at his office.

Kalla said it was time to find solutions so that officials would refuse bribes.

"If an official accepts a bribe and is later arrested, it`s normal. The important thing today is how to find ways so that they will refuse bribes," Kalla said.

The vice president made the statement commenting on the arrest of a member of the Judicial Commission, Irawady Joenoes, by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly receiving a bribe in a land procurement deal recently.