Lawmakers OK budget for KPK office
The Jakarta Post | National | Sat, October 13 2012, 9:33 AM
Paper Edition | Page: 4
The House of Representatives’ Commission III overseeing legal 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 the 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’s 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 in Jakarta on Friday.
KPK spokesman Johan Budi lauded the decision, saying that the new building was urgently needed as the current KPK eight-story building, located in Kuningan, South Jakarta, could not accommodate the antigraft 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] does not support our needs,” Johan said.
The KPK’s current headquarters is able to accommodate 350 employees, while the KPK’s present number of employees — including the investigators — tops more than 700. Dozens of KPK staffers have to work in two buildings outside the KPK.
In the proposal, the 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)
