Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said his country's fight against corruption was well underway, but appealed to countries not to harbour corrupt officials.

Yudhoyono said Indonesia was facing up to its corruption problem as part of moves to better the country's business environment.

"We have conducted and will continue to conduct very intensive anti- corruption campaigns," he told a gathering of top Malaysian business leaders in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to spruik investment.

"More than 80 mid to high-ranking government officers have been investigated," he said, adding the officials included governors, mayors and lawmakers.

Foreign direct investment approvals in Indonesia rose 0.84 percent to US$5.98 billion in the six months to July and grew steadily last year.

However, rampant corruption in Indonesia has been cited as a main deterrent of much-needed investment.

The president said he was making repeated calls at regional Southeast Asia and Asic-Pacific meetings for countries to lend a hand.

"I keep saying that we need also international cooperation, we need mutual assistance (that) there will be no safehaven in one country in the region for corrupt government officers," he said.

Economic reforms in place

Yudhoyono said Indonesia had faced difficulties such as natural disasters, but economic reforms had not been derailed.

"Despite having many external shocks, we do hope ... we could raise our economic growth close to 6.0 percent."

Yudhoyono also said Indonesia would boost infrastructure development in the next five years, including roads, telecommunications, ports and harbours, and energy-related businesses.

"We are coming (to) the conclusion that we have to invite foreign capital to be part of the infrastructure-building," said Yudhoyono.

"Probably half of that capital we need to invite our partners abroad," he added.