President Jokowi Has 4 Objections on KPK Law Revision

President Jokowi delivers press statement on Revision to KPK Law, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Friday (13/9). (Photo by: BPMI Setpres)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo expressed his disapproval of some of the contents in the Bill of Revision to Law Number 30 of 2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) which has the potential to limit the effectiveness of the KPK in carrying out its tasks.

“First, I have to disagree that the KPK must gain a prior permit from an external party, for example from the court, to perform wiretapping. The KPK only needs to obtain internal permit from the Supervisory Board to maintain confidentiality” he firmly said.

The second objection from the President is regarding KPK’s investigators and initial police investigators who must come from the police and prosecutor’s offices. The President said that they can also come from state civil apparatus promoted as employees of the KPK or other state institutions. “They must be appointed through a proper recruitment process”, he added.

President Jokowi also criticized the other point that the KPK must coordinate with the Attorney General’s office prior to prosecuting since the existing prosecution system has so far been well implemented.

The last objection stated by the President is regarding the authority to manage official wealth report (LHKPN) which was held by the KPK to be given to other ministries or institutions. “I object that point. I want the KPK to manage the LHKPN as usual,” President Jokowi firmly said.

Also on that occasion, President Jokowi asserted that Law Number 30 of 2002 on the KPK has been applied for 17 years, thus, it must be updated to make corruption eradication measures more effective.

“Once again, we will continue to make the KPK more powerful than other corruption eradication institutions,” President Jokowi stated in a press conference, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Friday (13/9).

The Head of State said that he has studied and followed up various inputs from the public, anti-corruption activists, university lecturers and students, as well as from national figures whom he met in a discussion of Revision to Law Number 30 of 2002 on KPK which was proposed by the House of Representatives (DPR).

The President went on to say that the Government is responsible to respond proposal from the House including on KPK Law Revision. Afterwards, the Government must prepare the List of Issue (DIM), and assign ministers to represent the President to discuss the matter with the House.

According to President Jokowi, he has instructed Minister of Law and Human Rights and Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) to deliver the Government’s view and stance on contents in the Bill which was proposed by the House.

“The KPK must still play core role in corruption eradication. Therefore, the Commission must be supported by sufficient authorities and powers. In fact, KPK must have more powers than other corruption eradication institutions,” the President firmly said. (UN/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : Mia Medyana Bonaedy