The credibility of the government of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is being tested by its changing claims about the whereabouts of Harun Masiku, who is wanted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
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The KPK has been on the hunt for the PDI-P legislative candidate in connection with the bribery allegations against KPU commissioner Wahyu Setiawan, who was arrested by the KPK along with three other individuals on Wednesday, 8 Jan. 2020. The immigration office stated that Harun had left Indonesia on 6 Jan. 2020 to Singapore, a statement that the KPK confirmed.
The immigration office, which falls under the Law and Human Rights Ministry, and the KPK insisted that Harun had still not returned to Indonesia by 22 Jan. 2020. Following a Tempo investigation and supporting evidence, including CCTV footage at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, proving that Harun had returned to Indonesia on Tuesday, 7 Jan. 2020, the immigration office corrected its statement. On 22 Jan. 2020, the immigration office admitted that Harun had returned to Indonesia on 7 Jan. 2020. The information on Harun’s return had not been updated because of a time delay in the immigration reporting system.
This issue could affect the credibility of the Jokowi administration. Several intellectuals, including Ade Armando, Goenawan Mohamad and Saiful Mujani, has created a petition on Change.org that urges President Jokowi to dismiss Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly. By noon on Thursday, 23 Jan. 2020, the petition had 606 signatures.
Yasonna, who is also the PDI-P deputy chairman, had earlier sparked controversy when he appeared at the announcement of the formation of a PDI-P legal team to investigate the bribery allegations against the KPU commissioner. The development has clearly affected public perception of President Jokowi\'s government.
The public believes that the flip-flopping information from the immigration office on the whereabouts of Harun is a lie. The public was swayed by the office’s explanation about the time lag in the data system because it came two weeks later. This development must be taken seriously because it can erode public confidence in the government. President Jokowi must take a stance on the alleged misinformation from the Justice and Human Rights Ministry.
The KPK’s efforts to arrest Harun are now being tested. However, it would be better for Harun to surrender and make his defense at court. Giving himself up and facing the KPK’s charges is better than staying in hiding. The efforts to construct a story could easily unravel in a situation that is so open. To surrender would be better than remaining a fugitive, which burdens the PDI-P for supporting his candidacy to the House of Representatives and continues to create problems for President Jokowi.