KPK Asks for Protection

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The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has asked President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo for protection from attempts to weaken it through a revision of the KPK Law. The House of Representatives (DPR) claims the President and the DPR are on the same page regarding the revision.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The KPK asked for President Jokowi’s protection from efforts to weaken it through the revision of Law No. 30/2002 on the KPK. A letter, which was signed by five elements of the KPK’s leadership and contained a request that Jokowi refuse to approve the revision of the KPK Law, was submitted on Friday (6/9/2019).

Besides sending the letter to President Jokowi, the KPK also wrote an open letter to the public, confirming its belief that President Jokowi was committed to eradicating corruption so that he would not allow the KPK to be weakened. Moreover, the eradication of corruption is related to legal certainty and the improvement of bureaucratic governance, and, therefore, impacts the country’s potential to attract investors and enhance economic growth. This is in line with President Jokowi\'s mission.
"Whether the revision of the KPK Law will continue or not depends on the role of the President. If the President is not willing to approve it, the bill will never become a law. If the President wants the KPK to be strong, the KPK will be strong. We believe, the President will not let this child of reformation fall down, be paralyzed and die," said KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo at the KPK building, Jakarta.
KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO
The list of the factions that gave responses and approved the revision of Law No. 2/2018 concerning the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), the House of Representatives (DPR), the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD) (UU MD3) and a revision of Law No. 30/2002 concerning the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at the DPR complex in Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday (5/9/2019). At the session, all factions approved the revisions of the two laws.
A day earlier, a DPR plenary session unanimously agreed that the KPK Law revision would become a DPR initiative bill. In the bill are several articles that are considered to weaken the KPK, such as the formation of a supervisory board for the KPK, which would be required to grant permission for wiretapping. On Friday, around 1,000 KPK employees stopped working for a moment to go down to the KPK building courtyard to call for the KPK not to be weakened. Some elements of civil society also took part.
Internet users also made a petition asking President Jokowi not to approve the revision of the KPK Law. The online petition through Change.org titled "Clean Indonesia, President Rejects the Revision of the KPK Law!" had been signed by around 6,000 people as of Friday evening, 14 hours after it was initiated.DPR demands
From Kompas\' search, those proposing the KPK Law revision include Masinton Pasaribu and Risa Mariska of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Saiful Bahri Ruray of the Golkar Party, Ibnu Multazam of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Achmad Baidowi of the United Development Party (PPP) and Taufiqulhadi of the NasDem Party. They all come from parties within the government coalition.
KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI
Employees of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) join hands around the KPK\'s red and white building in Jakarta Friday (6/9/2019). The action, which was attended by around 1,000 employees, asked President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to stop the revision of the KPK Law and to prevent candidates suspected of committing ethical violations from becoming leaders of the KPK for the 2019-2023 period. The employees ended the action by holding hands around the KPK building.
When confirmed, two PDI-P politicians, Hendrawan Supratikno and Masinton Pasaribu, confirmed the names. "There are several others backing the proposal," said Hendrawan.
As of Friday evening, the DPR had not yet received a presidential letter from President Jokowi.
The DPR cannot carry out its plan to discuss the KPK Law revision and finalize it next week without a presidential letter.
KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI
Employees of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) join hands around the KPK\'s red and white building in Jakarta Friday (6/9/2019). The action, which was attended by around 1,000 employees, asked President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to stop the revision of the KPK Law and to prevent candidates suspected of committing ethical violations from becoming leaders of the KPK for the 2019-2023 period.
Masinton claimed the President and the DPR were on the same page, namely believing there is a need to revitalize the corruption eradication agenda. He asked President Jokowi to immediately send the presidential letter to begin the discussion.
He said that informally, delegates had spoken with the President to discuss the revision. Therefore, he said, President Jokowi should know about the planned revision of the KPK Law.
KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI
Employees of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) join hands around the KPK\'s red and white building in Jakarta Friday (6/9/2019). The action, which was attended by around 1,000 employees, asked President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to stop the revision of the KPK Law and to prevent candidates suspected of committing ethical violations from becoming leaders of the KPK for the 2019-2023 period.
"There is no need for the President to hesitate. We have to take advantage of the moment because this time all factions in the DPR agreed by acclamation, like never before," said Masinton.
In Boyolali, Central Java, President Jokowi again explained that he had not read the draft of the KPK bill. He said he would first learn what points of the KPK Law needed to be revised. However, the President stressed that the KPK had been working very well to eradicate corruption.
"What is clear, I think, is that we expect the DPR to have the same enthusiasm to strengthen the KPK," said the President.
KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioner Saut Situmorang delivers a speech at an action together with KPK employees at the KPK\'s red and white building in Jakarta, Friday (6/9/2019). The action, which was attended by around 1,000 employees, asked President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to stop the revision of the KPK Law and to prevent candidates suspected of committing ethical violations from becoming leaders of the KPK for the 2019-2023 period. The employees ended the action by holding hands around the KPK building.
Consultation with the KPK
KPK deputy chairperson Laode M Syarif said if the DPR wanted to revise the KPK Law, the plan must be discussed with the people who elected them. In addition, he said the KPK must be consulted. He said a complete draft of the revision had emerged with no consultation with the KPK.
Related to this, PPP politician Arsul Sani said the KPK had disclosed an agreement on the planned revision of the KPK Law with KPK acting head Taufiequrachman Ruki during a hearing with DPR Commission III on Nov. 19, 2015.
However, Transparency International Indonesia\'s secretary-general Dadang Trisasongko said the points in the revision that weakened the KPK ignored the fact that Indonesia was among the 30 most corrupt countries in the world, as reflected in its stagnation on the Corruption Perception Index in the last four years.
KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI
Employees of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) join hands around the KPK\'s red and white building in Jakarta Friday (6/9/2019). The action, which was attended by around 1,000 employees, asked President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to stop the revision of the KPK Law and to prevent candidates suspected of committing ethical violations from becoming leaders of the KPK for the 2019-2023 period. The employees ended the action by holding hands around the KPK building.
"Reducing the authority of the KPK is counterproductive to efforts to fight corruption in Indonesia," said Dadang. ( IAN/AGE/ INA/ FAI/ WER/ REK)

Editor:
naranasrullah

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