Members of a coalition to reject the right of inquiry against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) show documents after reporting to the House of Representatives’ Ethics Council (MKD) at the parliament complex in Senayan, South Jakarta, on Monday (12/6). The coalition reported 23 members of the House’s inquiry committee —including House speaker Fadli Zon and deputy speaker Fahri Hamzah — to the MKD over alleged violations of the House\'s ethics code.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The inquiry committee of the House of Representatives is seen as intentionally disrupting the work of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
The objectivity of the House’s inquiry committee is in doubt because of the conflict of interests between the House and the KPK.
Emerson Yuntho from the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said during a “Save KPK” discussion in Jakarta on Monday (12/6) that there had been 16 attempts to weaken the KPK, eight of which came from the House.
These included the inquiry motion, the idea to disband the KPK, the idea to make the KPK an ad hoc body and the rejection against the KPK budget. Other attempts were the idea to revise the KPK Law, the intervention against the investigation and prosecution, the complaint against the travel ban of House leaders and to put on hold the selection of House leaders.
Emerson said at the time that 86 House members were facing legal prosecution by the KPK related to graft cases.
Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairwoman Grace Natalie said corruption was an extraordinary crime and the House had spoiled the legal process.
“The public must save the KPK. The public must be against the use of taxpayers’ money to finance the House inquiry committee. The taxpayers’ money must not be used to weaken the KPK,” she said.
Yesterday, House leaders and members of the inquiry committee were reported to the House’s Honorary Council (MKD) by the Coalition of Civil Society Against the Inquiry Motion for allegedly violating the House’s code of ethics by forcing an inquiry motion despite breaching the law and going against the people’s will.
House leaders being reported included deputy speakers Fahri Hamzah and Fadli Zon. All 23 members of the House inquiry committee from seven factions were also reported, including the Indonesian Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Golkar, Gerindra, the National Mandate Party (PAN), United Development Party (PPP), Nasdem and Hanura.
House MKD deputy chairman Sarifuddin Sudding from the Hanura party said he was not aware of the report, adding that the MKD secretariat had not reported it.
However, any report to the MKD would be verified, he said.
“The report will be checked if it meets the formal and material requirement. The plaintiff will also be checked. If all of them meet the requirement, the MKD will follow up on [the report],” he said.
House inquiry committee member Masinton Pasaribu from the PDI-P faction denied that the committee had violated any laws.
