Coordinating Politics, Legal and Security Minister Wiranto (right) and Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki leave the Presidential Palace on Tuesday (24/10) after a closed meeting with President Joko Widodo regarding the formation of the National Police’s Special Anticorruption Detachment (Densus Tipikor). The government has decided to postpone the formation of the new anti-graft squad.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has taken a decision to postpone the establishment of the Special Anticorruption Detachment (Densus Tipikor), which still needs further assessing.
President Jokowi\'s decision, as disclosed by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto, is the right one. After the President\'s decision, controversy and polemic about the discourse of the establishment of Densus Tipikor need not be extended.
Involving the National Police in eradicating corruption has to be seen as a positive spirit to wipe out corruption in this country. However, in its development, a number of varied interests have joined the spirit to strengthen the National Police in eradicating corruption, including the spirit to weaken and marginalize the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
It has been a long time since the discourse over the establishment of Densus Tipikor has appeared in the public sphere. The energy of the nation is being depleted on the pros and cons in a communication process that is insincere and too tightly related to the nuances of group interests. Therefore, President Jokowi\'s decision to postpone the Densus Tipikor’s establishment is the correct one.
Existing anticorruption institutions, especially the KPK, are actually sufficient to combat corruption. What is really a problem in corruption eradication is the intention of a handful of political elites who are uncomfortable with the KPK\'s moves or whose interests are disrupted by the KPK\'s measures. In such a situation, the support of the nation’s political leadership against the weakening of the KPK is urgently needed.
After taking the decision to postpone the establishment of Densus Tipikor, it is now time for President Jokowi to meet his political promises to strengthen the KPK as outlined in the Nawacita document. As an independent institution, the KPK should be free of the influence of any political power. In this context too, it is better for President Jokowi to use all of his authorities and influence to stop the controversy surrounding the House of Representatives Special Inquiry Committee against the KPK, which has not been made clear as to when it will be completed.
On the other hand, the KPK needs to immediately reflect and consolidate itself in eradicating corruption in this country. It has to be admitted that polarization exists in the body of the KPK. The KPK’s experiencing several defeats in naming corruption suspects along the pretrial path has to be seen as an important lesson for the KPK. Naming a corruption suspect must be carried out with care, based on investigations, interrogations and backed by adequate evidence. Meanwhile, the cases of people who have been named suspects should not be left hanging without any certainty
