Internal Polemic Never Ends, KPK's Marwah Is At Stake
Apart from being considered not to have a good strategy in eradicating corruption, the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) is now caught up in internal polemics.
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Residents pass in front of the Red and White Building of the Commission Corruption Eradication (KPK) Kuningan, Jakarta, Monday (6/7/2020).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The numerous polemics that have occurred within the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have put the institution's anti-corruption reputation at risk. The internal KPK must evaluate and improve itself in order to focus on anti-corruption efforts. If the polemics continue, then the public's perception of KPK will only deteriorate further.
The dismissal of Firli Bahuri as the Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over allegations of extortion against former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, apparently did not mark the end of the controversies in the anti-corruption agency. Instead, KPK is increasingly embroiled in internal controversies. At least 93 employees of the anti-corruption agency are under investigation in an ethics hearing related to allegations of extortion against KPK detainees.
Recently, a controversy arose involving the Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Nurul Ghufron, who was reported to the KPK Supervisory Council (Dewas) for alleged ethical violations due to his alleged communication with an official from the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the transfer of one of the ministry's employees.
The report then led to a long chain of events. Ghufron actually reported one of the members of the KPK Supervisory Board, Albertina Ho, to the KPK Supervisory Board with allegations of abuse of power. Albertina was reported to the KPK Supervisory Board regarding her action of requesting the analysis results of KPK employees' financial transactions from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).
Dewas has examined Albertina and concluded that there has been no ethical violation committed by Albertina. Meanwhile, Ghufron will face an ethics hearing starting from May 2, 2024.
Professor of Criminal Law at Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Hibnu Nugroho
When contacted in Jakarta on Sunday (April 28, 2024), Professor of Criminal Procedure Law at Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Hibnu Nugroho, revealed that the internal polemic within the KPK has jeopardized the institution's anti-corruption reputation. According to him, the KPK no longer appears to be an institution specifically formed to strengthen law enforcement in the fight against corruption.
From a management perspective, there seems to be no good collaboration among the leaders of KPK in eradicating corruption. From the enforcement side, KPK is considered to lack focus in uncovering a case.
"There is no clear target. This is what makes the situation of enforcing and preventing corruption crimes mandated by the KPK not optimal. There is no good strategy in revealing a case," said Hibnu.
As a solution, Hibnu suggested that the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and non-involved deputies should take over the issue internally by evaluating especially in eradicating corruption. The KPK must have extraordinary targets in handling cases.
There is no clear target, which makes the situation of enforcing and preventing corruption as mandated by the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) not optimal. There is no good strategy in disclosing a case.
Hibnu, in fact, believes that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is now inferior to other law enforcement agencies in eradicating corruption. Attorney General, one of them. The law enforcement agency, which is now led by ST Burhanuddin, actually has the courage to reveal cases of alleged major corruption, such as the management of tin in the PT Timah Tbk 2015-2022 mining business permit area which is estimated to cost the state up to IDR 271 trillion.
However, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is only responsible for corruption issues, while the Attorney General's Office (Kejagung) must handle general and specific criminal cases. If the KPK consistently fails to demonstrate its maximum performance, it is feared that the KPK will become an institution that is not taken into account by the public. Therefore, there needs to be an evaluation by returning the function of the KPK as a corruption eradication agency.
Corruption Eradication Committee Solidarity
Contacted separately, Researcher at the Center for Anti-Corruption Studies at Gadjah Mada University (Pukat UGM), Zaenur Rohman, said that internal polemics would have an impact on the solidity of the KPK. This is because fellow KPK members actually suspect each other and report each other.
In addition, this controversy also has an impact on the performance of the KPK. Instead of working together to enhance its performance in eradicating corruption, both from preventative and punitive measures, the KPK is instead busy with polemics for personal interests.
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A researcher from the UGM Anti-Corruption Studies Center, Zaenur Rohman, provided a statement to journalists regarding the rejection of the revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, at Tugu Yogyakarta, on Tuesday (17/9/2019). The action was carried out together with the Yogyakarta Anti-Corruption Network (JAK).
As a result, the image of the KPK will worsen. This is because the public does not see the performance of the KPK in combating corruption. Instead, the public sees various unnecessary internal polemics within the KPK. As a result, public trust in the KPK is decreasing.
Based on the results of a Kompas Research Institute survey in December 2023, the good image of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is at 47.5 percent. This is the lowest figure among 22 surveys conducted since January 2015. In fact, in the January 2015 survey, the good image of the KPK was once at 88.5 percent.
With a low public trust towards the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), it will have an impact on the efforts to combat corruption. The community will increasingly view the KPK as underperforming, even unimportant. As a result, the public may demand for the KPK to be disbanded.
Zaenur emphasizes that KPK personnel should avoid actions that violate ethical codes and create potential conflicts of interest, especially in the form of abusive use of authority. He hopes that the KPK Supervisory Board focuses on examining Ghufron. This is because Ghufron's alleged abuse of authority poses a significant danger.
From an internal perspective, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) must immediately overhaul itself, including internalizing the code of ethics at the KPK. This is because many violations of the code of ethics have been committed by leaders and employees of the KPK, making it a very serious issue within the KPK.
Also read: KPK Internal Problems Again, Nurul Ghufron Communicates with Ministry of Agriculture
Previously, Head of KPK News Reporting Division, Ali Fikri, ensured that all activities in the KPK continue to run despite the dynamics within the institution. This is because the KPK is a system that continues to operate.
