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JAKARTA: An Indonesian badminton legend has claimed that the Southeast Asian nation’s sports ministry is riddled with corrupt “rats”, after admitting its own role in a bribery case.
“No matter who the minister is, it will be the same,” retired Olympic gold medalist Taufik Hidayat said in an interview on YouTube this week.
“Half of the building should be destroyed because there are so many rats inside.”
The 38-year-old comments came after he testified in court last week that he handed over $ 67,000 to the personal assistant to former youth and sports minister Imam Nahrawi, who is on trial for corruption.
Hidayat, who denied knowing that the money was a bribe, said it was common for ministry officials to embezzle funds through sports programs.
But he acknowledged that he had no concrete evidence to back up the claims.
The youth and sports ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
However, local media quoted the secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Gatot S. Dewa Broto, saying the claims were unfounded.
“We just have to prove (he’s wrong) by doing our job,” said Broto.
The Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission said Hidayat should file a formal complaint describing his claims.
The archipelago of more than 260 million is riddled with corruption at all levels of society and its parliament is widely seen as one of its most affected institutions.
