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Govt, House agree to postpone KPK Law revision
Luhut Binsar Panjaitan (tempo
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Luhut Panjaitan (tempo.co) (tempo.co)
Luhut Binsar Panjaitan (tempo.co)
The government and the House of Representatives have agreed to postpone the revision of Law No. 30/2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), following widespread public opposition to the revision that many see as an effort to weaken the anti-corruption body.
Politics, Law and Security Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said on Tuesday that the government would concentrate its efforts on addressing the economic slowdown and preparing the 2016 state budget bill.
'We have agreed on the [delay of the] revision of the KPK Law. We will wait for the next session [of the House],' Luhut said at the State Palace after attending a meeting between President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and House leaders on Tuesday. 'The government wants to see the economy recover smoothly,' he added.
The plan to revise the KPK Law sparked strong public opposition. People particularly criticized efforts to limit the KPK's lifetime to only 12 years.
'It is not only to weaken the KPK ' it is premeditated murder. After 12 years, the KPK would die," said Indonesian Corruption Watch's (ICW) legal and monitoring division coordinator Emerson Yuntho as reported by kompas.com at a meeting with Democratic Party politicians in Jakarta on Saturday.
Meanwhile, House speaker Setya Novanto said that the House could understand the government's argument for the postponement. 'From the meeting, we have a great picture of how to make the KPK become a better institution,' Setya said.
All four House deputy speakers ' Fadli Zon, Fahri Hamzah, Agus Hermanto and Taufik Kurniawan ' also attended the meeting. Meanwhile President Jokowi was accompanied by Luhut, Human and Cultural Development Coordinating Minister Puan Maharani, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H Laoly, State Secretary Pataikno and Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki. (bbn)
