House approves new building for KPK

KPK headquarters in South Jakarta: (Tribunnews)The House of Representatives’ Commission III overseeing law and human rights affairs has finally approved the budget allocation to build a new building for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The commission had previously rejected such a proposal on two previous occasions - first in June 2008 and again in September 2008.

“At 9 p.m. yesterday, I led an internal meeting discussing the budget allocation for the KPK, the National Police, the Attorney General Office [AGO] and the Constitutional Court. The [lawmakers] decided a few things, including the matter regarding the KPK new building,” Commission III leader Gede Pasek Suardika said on Thursday night as quoted by kompas.com.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi celebrated the move, saying that the new building was urgently needed as the current KPK 8-story building, located in Kuningan, South Jakarta, could not accommodate the anti graft agency’s needs.

“The Commission III’s move to approve our proposal should be appreciated. The new building is a necessity. The current condition [of the building] is not supporting,” Johan said.

The KPK’s current headquarters is able to accommodate 350 employees, while KPK’s present number of employees - including the investigators - tops more than 700. Dozens of KPK staffers have to work in two other buildings outside the KPK.

In the proposal, KPK aims to build a 16-story building that will be able accommodate up to 1,200 employees. The new building is intended be built on a 27,000-square-meter plot on Jl. HR. Rasuna Said, Setiabudi, Kuningan, South Jakarta -not far from the KPK’s current location. (swd)