Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsCan't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsSeveral "superheroes" from the Coalition of Anti Corruption Societies hold a protest opposing a planned revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission Law on Car Free Day in Jakarta on Sunday
span class="caption">Several "superheroes" from the Coalition of Anti Corruption Societies hold a protest opposing a planned revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission Law on Car Free Day in Jakarta on Sunday.(Antara/M. Agung Rajasa)
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioners met President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday to try to persuade him to reject a revision of the KPK Law, on the back of fears that the revision will cripple the KPK's power in the fight against corruption.
KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo and commissioners Basaria Panjaitan and Laode Muhammad met with Jokowi on Monday morning at the State Palace before the President's meeting with House speakers and the legislative council in the afternoon.
The commissioners met with the President to discuss the revision of the 2002 Law on the KPK included in the House National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) and discussed at the legislative council earlier this month.
KPK commissioners strongly oppose the plan to revise the Law, which is widely expected to weaken the antigraft commission.
Agus said over the weekend that he would resign his position if the government and the House proceeded with the amendment to the law.
"We will convince the President to delay and reject the revision," Agus told kompas.com last week.
Jokowi will meet with House speakers and legislative council members at the State Palace at 1:30 p.m. on Monday.
The House will hold a plenary meeting on Tuesday to decide whether to proceed with the revision discussion .
Jokowi agreed to delay the revision in October last year; however, in a subsequent working meeting with the legislative council, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly approved the inclusion of the revision in the list of priority laws.
Separately, a forum of professors from various universities in Indonesia issued a joint statement opposing the revision of the KPK Law.
The professors said that the revision was a wrong and unwise step, and contravened the much-needed anticorruption spirit.
"Mr. President, we believe that the KPK is still needed by this country to clean up corruption and help President Joko Widodo to realize good governance and clean government," the forum said in a statement.
The forum consists of prominent figures such as Sulistyowati Irianto and Hamdi Muluk, Rhenald Kasali from the University of Indonesia, Hariadi Kartodihardjo and Didik Suharjito from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, Maria SW Sumardjono from Gadjah Mada University, Saldi Isra from Andalas University, Firmanzah from Paramadina University, Todung Mulya Lubis from the University of Melbourne in Australia and Ahmad Syafii Maarif from Yogyakarta State University.
"To save corruption eradication in Indonesia, we ask the President to reject the revision of the the KPK Law being discussed at the House," the statement said, adding that the rejection could be in the form of not issuing a Presidential Decree or not sending a government representative to the discussion at the House.
The forum also urged Jokowi to remind all political parties in the government coalition to oppose the planned revision.
With Jokowi's party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as the main driver, seven out of 10 factions at the House currently back the revision. (rin)(+)
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.