House wipes out discussion of KPK Law revision in plenary meeting

Standing firm: Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioner Bambang Widjojanto greets supporters when exiting the antigraft body office in South Jakarta. Bambang wrapped up his tumultuous year with the KPK on Dec. 16, following a House of Representatives decision to endorse five candidates nominated by President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo for KPK leadership positions. The President and the House of Representatives agreed to postpone a discussion of the 2002 KPK Law amendment in a meeting on Monday. (JP/P.J.Leo)

The House of Representatives postponed discussion of the amendment to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law during a plenary meeting at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday.

House Speaker Ade Komarudin said it had been decided to withdraw the tabled discussion of the 2002 KPK Law during a House deliberative body (Bamus) meeting earlier on Tuesday. '€œWe held a Bamus meeting this morning to get approval for the postponement of the KPK Law draft revision discussion scheduled for today'€™s plenary meeting,'€ the Golkar Party politician said on Tuesday.

The House'€™s decision to postpone the discussion of the KPK Law draft revision started with an agreement made during its consultation meeting with President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo on Monday. During the meeting, the President and House leaders agreed to postpone the discussion of the KPK Law amendment.

The delay is aimed at giving wider opportunity to both the government and the House to introduce practical points in the KPK Law draft bill to members of the public, many of whom have rejected the law amendment plan.

The current KPK Law draft revision consists of four amendment points that have been strongly criticized by the public. The four amendments would mandate the establishment of an oversight council to monitor the antigraft body, give the KPK the authority to issue investigation termination warrants in corruption cases, require the KPK to obtain permits to conduct wiretaps and remove its ability to recruit its own investigators.

Neither the government nor the House have set a date to resume discussion on the draft revision.

"We have not arranged an exact date to discuss the amendment again," House Deputy Speaker Agus Hermanto said on Tuesday.

Amendment of the KPK Law is supported by seven factions at the House, namely the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Golkar Party, the Hanura Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the NasDem Party. Three factions have rejected the amendment, namely the Gerindra Party, the Democratic Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). (ebf)