The inauguration was held amid the unresolved issue of 75 KPK employees who allegedly failed a civics knowledge test and thus did not qualify to become civil servants.
Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri (center) together with Secretary General Cahya Harefa (left) and Acting KPK Spokesperson Ali Fikri gave a statement to reporters regarding the implementation of the Inauguration of Civil Servants and Positions for KPK employees at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Tuesday ( 1/6/2021).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) inaugurated on Tuesday (1/6/2021) 1,271 KPK employees as state civil servants amid calls from the public and several KPK employees to postpone the ceremony. The inauguration was held amid the unresolved issue of 75 KPK employees who allegedly failed a civics knowledge test and thus did not qualify to become civil servants.
During the inauguration, police officers were spotted around the KPK building in Kuningan, South Jakarta. Police tactical vehicles also blocked the road leading to the KPK building and any unauthorized vehicles were directed to turn around.
The inauguration took place both online and offline. Only 53 employees attended the ceremony in person. They were either representatives of KPK employees or those that occupied structural positions. The rest took part in the ceremony through an online application and were required to attend and provide proof of attendance.
A law professor at Jenderal Soedirman University, Hibnu Nugroho, contacted from Jakarta on Tuesday and criticized the inauguration ceremony. According to him, it has not been two years since the KPK Law was enacted – the deadline would be Oct. 17 – for the KPK to first resolve the issue of the 75 KPK employees who allegedly failed the test.
Hibnu also questioned why the ceremony had to coincide with the commemoration of Pancasila Day.
“Pancasila Day is a sacred day and we must respect it. However, this day has nothing to do with [the transitioning of KPK employees to civil servants],” he said.
KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO
Representatives of 75 KPK employees who did not pass the civic test took a group photo after complaining at the Komnas HAM Office in Jakarta, Monday (24/5/2021).
Hibnu is one of 77 professors who have urged the KPK leadership to revoke the dismissal of the 75 KPK employees who allegedly did not pass the test. They also asked the KPK leadership to postpone the inauguration ceremony.
In a press conference following the ceremony and oath-swearing, KPK chairman Firli Bahuri confirmed that 1,271 KPK employees had been sworn in as civil servants. They attended the ceremony both in person and online.
Considered resolved
We will discuss this with the 24 people later, whether they wish to follow through or not.
According to Firli, the issue of around 700 KPK employees who previously asked for the inauguration to be postponed has been resolved. His party met with a group of representatives and stated that the ceremony must still be carried out because it concerned the rights of all employees and their families.
“I want to say that this has been resolved because 1,271 people attended [the ceremony] and were sworn in,” said Firli, who was also accompanied by KPK secretary-general Cahya Harefa and acting KPK spokesperson Ali Fikri.
The KPK has work to do with regard to the 75 KPK employees who failed to meet the requirements to become civil servants, Firli said. One of which is to provide opportunities for 24 of them to take part in state defense education and national insight through collaboration with other institutions.
“We will discuss this with the 24 people later, whether they wish to follow through or not,” said Firli.
Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro
Employees of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leave the KPK Building after following the inauguration of Civil Servants and Positions for KPK employees at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Tuesday (1/6/2021).
According to Firli, with the inauguration and oath-swearing, the spirit of eradicating corruption among KPK employees has not changed. However, he did acknowledge that there was a lot of work to be done, namely in internal consolidation and solving unfinished cases.
Separately, KPK Employee Forum chairman Yudi Purnomo congratulated the inaugurated KPK employees. He hopes they will remain enthusiastic and maintain their integrity. According to Yudi, the inauguration ceremony does not mark the end of the struggle. He has asked the KPK employees to reunite and continue to observe President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s directive so that the 75 KPK employees deemed unqualified to become civil servants are not dismissed.
“Because the decision of the Constitutional Court is clear, the transfer of status should not harm employees who have long sought to eradicate corruption and have no doubt regarding their commitment and competence in fighting corruption,” he said.
Meanwhile, former director of Inter-Commission Network Development and KPK Agencies Sujanarko congratulated KPK chairman Firli Bahuri.
“Of course, this is good news for the oligarchs,” he said.
Sujanarko hopes that KPK employees who have been inaugurated as civil servants will maintain cohesiveness and remain firm in their ideals of eradicating corruption.
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