MINISTER: WIRETAPPING LAW NOT TO WEAKEN ANTIGRAFT BODY

Jakarta, Dec 7 (ANTARA) - Minister of Communications and Information Tifatul Sembiring said here on Monday that the planned government regulation on wiretapping was not intended for weakening the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"It is not true (that it is) for weakening the KPK. How could it be as the KPK will also be involved in its drafting," he said after attending a coordination meeting on security, political and legal affairs.

He said his office and a team from several ministries concerned had since May 2008 formulated a draft regulation on ways to intercept and in October the draft was submitted to the ministry of justice and human rights for process of harmonization.

"If it is considered against other regulations it is because its process of harmonizing with other regulations has not yet finished. It does not mean we will weaken the KPK. Who say we will," he said.

He said the draft regulation offered several alternatives relating to methods of wiretapping including through the National Interception Center (PIN).

So far he said the KPK directly sought connection with cell phone operatotars such as Telkomsel, Indosat, XL and Telkom and so did the police. This has to be regulated, he said.

He said the harmonization was expected to finish for public scrutiny in April 2010.

Earlier the KPK and several community elements raised questions about the draft regulation now being discussed at the office of the state minister of communications and information which they feared would weaken KPK's operations in the fight against corruption in view of its provision on court permit requirement for wiretapping.**