Against the Will of the People

House of Representatives deputy speaker Fahri Hamzah’s move to endorse the use of the inquiry right against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) signifies a move against the will of the people.

The way Fahri, a member of the House’s Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction, brought down the gavel to mark the approval of the House’s right of inquiry is questionable. Fahri, despite interruption from a number of House members, struck the gavel. The House right of inquiry against the KPK was approved by the House! This is the first inquiry passed by the House, a move that may be deemed by the public as an effort to weaken the KPK!  The House’s PKS faction leadership no longer considers Fahri as representative of the PKS.

Kompas daily noted that 26 House members from several factions initiated the implementation of inquiry rights. Nine out of 10 factions signed the use of the inquiry right. The majority of factions supporting the government of President Joko Widodo-Vice President Jusuf Kalla supported the implementation of inquiry rights. The only faction against the inquiry right proposal was the Democratic Party faction. The largest number of initiators were from the Golkar Party faction with 10 members, Hanura Party faction with seven members, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction with two members, the NasDem Party faction two members, the National Awakening Party (PKB) one member, National Mandate Party one member, United Development Party (PPP) one member, PKS one member and the Gerindra Party one member.

The House inquiry right is intended to force the KPK to release the recording of the questioning of a House member from Hanura faction, Miryam Haryani, by KPK investigators. KPK leadership does not want to release the recording as investigation is ongoing. The law also prohibits the KPK from releasing the recording. Miryam was on the KPK’s most-wanted list and was arrested by the police on May 1.

Let the people, with their electoral districts, judge the political behavior of their representatives in the House. After Fahri passed the inquiry right, a number of petitions were posted on change.org. Virgo Sulianto Gohardi mobilized the petitions against the House inquiry right. As of Monday, 4 p.m. on May 1, the petitions had been signed by 2,888 supporters.

While the KPK is not without its weaknesses, the House using the right of inquiry as an ultimate weapon to supervise the antigraft body is excessive and has no legal ground. The move highlights the political stubbornness of the House. As an independent institution, the KPK cannot be investigated with an inquiry. The KPK is not a government institution; it is a law enforcement institution that works in accordance with laws. It is clear that the House’s move aims to prevent the KPK from moving forward with the e-ID graft case, which implicates many House members.