PKS Chief's Arrest To Affect Islamic Parties: Dien

Yogyakarta, Jan 31 (ANTARA) - An Islamic leader, Din Syamsuddin, said the recent arrest of the president of the Islamic Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq, by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) could affect other Islamic parties. "I was really shocked to hear the arrest of the PKS president, which certainly would not only affect him but also his party as well as other Islamic parties," Din Syamsuddin, the general chairman of the one of the country`s major Islamic organizations, Muhammadiyah, said after dedicating the Perak Mosque in Kotagede here on Thursday. He said the case was a big problem for Muslims because it showed that Muslim-based parties in reality could not present Islamic values. "Some therefore have joked that Islamic parties are now not different from secular parties. In positive terms all Islamic parties fight for Islamic values but in negative terms many of their figures have been summoned by KPK," he said. Din said the case must be used for introspection by all parties including state officials, legislative and executive members and political party leaders with regard to corruption fight. "I think all parties must introspect and seriously eradicate corruption which is a vice and a real crime threatening the nation," he said. KPK arrested PKS Chief Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq on Wednesday night for allegedly being involved in a bribery case relating to meat import. KPK said it has named Luthfi suspect in the case based on strong evidence.