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Jokowi dodges responsibility
On the defensive: President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo gives the media his views on the controversy over his appointment of Comr
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On the defensive:: President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo gives the media his views on the controversy over his appointment of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as the sole National Police chief candidate. (Presidential Secretariat/Cahyo Bruri Sasmito) (Presidential Secretariat/Cahyo Bruri Sasmito)
On the defensive: President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo gives the media his views on the controversy over his appointment of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as the sole National Police chief candidate. (Presidential Secretariat/Cahyo Bruri Sasmito)
President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo broke silence on Wednesday on the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) move to name his pick for the next National Police chief, Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, a suspect.
Amid high expectations that Jokowi would withdraw Budi's nomination, the former Jakarta governor went against the tide by refusing to immediately adjust his missteps amid escalating protests from antigraft activists.
Jokowi has yet to take any action following the KPK's decision, arguing that he was still waiting for Budi's official endorsement from the House of Representatives during a plenary session on Thursday.
'We respect the KPK. However, we also respect the political process at the House,' Jokowi said.
Jokowi has also refused to take the blame for the controversy surrounding the nomination, arguing that his decision was based on a recommendation from the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), whose chairman is Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno.
'I asked about the issue surrounding the [bank] account. I asked Kompolnas and I also received this letter [...] clarifying the [bank] account transactions and an inquiry found no irregularities.'
Later on Wednesday evening, the KPK called on Jokowi not to inaugurate Budi.
'I still believe that Pak Jokowi will respect the law and abide by the Constitution. Our stance is always consistent and firm with regard to graft suspects, whether regional heads or House lawmakers. Anyone who has been named a suspect by the KPK must not be sworn-in as a government official,' KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said.
Jokowi previously ruled out Budi for the post of administrative and bureaucratic reform minister in October due to the concerns of the KPK about his vulnerability to corruption investigations.
Earlier in the day, the House thumbed its nose at the KPK's move to name Budi a suspect by endorsing his nomination, paving the way for his inevitable inauguration.
House Commission III overseeing law and human rights unanimously endorsed Budi's controversial nomination in a confirmation hearing, during which the lawmakers allowed him to clarify the graft allegations leveled against him.
In the hearing, Budi deemed the KPK's move to name him a suspect in a bribery case as 'illegal' given that he had not been questioned by the antigraft body prior to the announcement.
Budi also convinced lawmakers to back his nomination by outlining his agenda for the force, which included prioritizing corruption prevention efforts, instead of graft prosecution.
'I think a figure that can skillfully focus on preventive measures is more important because prevention is better than enforcement. Punishing corruptors will fail to provide a deterrent effect. Doing so will instead breed more corruptors,' Budi said, responding to a request for his thoughts on the quality of two candidates for KPK commissioners, one of whom is to be endorsed by the House later this month.
His response quickly won support from Commission III lawmakers, including deputy speaker Desmond Junaidi Mahesa.
'The KPK has never educated people on prevention,' said Desmond, a politician from the Gerindra Party who is known as a staunch critic of the KPK. 'The KPK always thinks it's right. It's like God of this republic,' he said.
When the confirmation hearing wrapped up, Budi secured endorsements from nine out of the 10 political factions at the House. Once he takes the oath of office, Budi will be the first graft suspect to lead the country's highest law enforcement institution.
'The majority of factions in Commission III gave their support for Pak Budi's nomination for a variety of reasons that I cannot and will not reveal to the public. We have done our job, so now it's up to President Jokowi to make the final decision,' Commission III chairman Aziz Syamsuddin said after the hearing.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Trimedya Panjaitan was confident that Jokowi would inaugurate Budi,' We really hope Pak Jokowi inaugurates him [Budi]'.
Trimedya said PDI-P chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri had instructed the party's lawmakers to fight for Budi's nomination.
In the confirmation hearing, only the Democratic Party faction objected to Budi's nomination and ordered its lawmakers to skip the session.
'We want to help Pak Jokowi avoid making a mistake,' Democratic Party lawmakers Erma Suryani Ranik said.
Speculation was rife that lawmakers gave their solid support to Budi because the police general had a plan to undermine the KPK in the future.
The KPK has arrested dozens of top politicians and lawmakers since its establishment in 2003. All of them were found guilty by the courts, creating anxiety among politicians.
