Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders, (from left), Ade Rahardja, Adnan Pandu Praja, M Zulkarnain, Taufiqurachman Ruki, Eko Tjiptadi, Erry Riyana Hardjapamengkas, Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean and Chandra Hamzah after addressing reporters at the KPK building in Jakarta on Friday (7/7). They declared their support for the steps taken by the KPK in responding to the House’s inquiry into the KPK.
Hopes for the PresThe maneuver of the Inquiry Committee of the House of Representatives (DPR) has caused a new political commotion. There is a polarization of public opinion and the House of Representatives on the inquiry issue.
The former leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have been forced to intervene and asked President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to do something. The former KPK leaders, Taufiequrachman Ruki, Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean, Chandra Hamzah, Busyro Muqoddas, Zulkarnain, Adnan Pandu Praja, Bambang Widjojanto, Indriyanto Seno Adji, and Johan Budi SP, have called for President Jokowi\'s commitment as the head of state and head of government to save the KPK.
The President\'s commitment indeed needs to be asked for because it is the coalition of supporters of President Jokowi\'s government which is very active in taking the initiative to weaken the KPK. Legislators from the factions supporting the government of President Jokowi are on an expedition to meet corruption convicts at Sukamiskin Penitentiary to obtain facts that can be used to undermine the KPK.
What deputy secretary general of the Democratic Party Didi Irawadi Syamsuddin said is true, that the visit by the House Inquiry Committee to Sukamiskin Penitentiary to meet the corruptors give the impression that the corruptors are being mistreated. Without any initiative to fortify the KPK from President Jokowi, it could be interpreted that the political maneuver of the House Inquiry Committee to weaken the KPK is being carried out with the approval of President Jokowi.
We believe that President Jokowi can still take a political stance that is firm and straight, and takes the side of corruption eradication, as shown during the recent "conflict" between the KPK leaders and the National Police, when the President dared to reprimand the police when they wanted to detain the KPK\'s senior investigator, Novel Baswedan, in the persecution case in Bengkulu.
Nawacita, the campaign documents of the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla pair, also shows President Jokowi\'s favor of the KPK. The document reads, "We will support the existence of the KPK, which, in its practice of eradicating corruption, has become the cornerstone of the people\'s hope. The KPK has to be kept as an independent body which is free from the influence of political forces." The Nawacita document is very obvious and clear.
The KPK, which has become the foundation of the people\'s expectations, is now under threat from political forces which intend to undermine it or dissolve it. As a President chosen by the people who relies on populism, President Jokowi cannot leave the KPK to become sterile or the KPK to become disbanded during his term in office.
We remember that during presidential campaign, Joko Widodo defined democracy as listening to the voice of the people. Therefore, if the people have voiced their opposition against the efforts to weaken the KPK, President Joko Widodo will listen to the people\'s voice.
