he House of Representatives’ inquiry team, with its agenda to incriminate the antigraft body, aims to meet with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to share its findings against the body in what might be an unprecedented meeting.
The team, tasked with probing the performance of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), had filed a request with the House’s leadership board for a consultation with the Presidential Palace. The meeting aims to expose the team’s findings before announcing recommendations in a plenary meeting on Sept. 28, inquiry team deputy chairman Taufiqulhadi said.
If the palace agrees to meet, this would be the first time a House inquiry team would have a consultation with a president over controversial matters being discussed by the team.
“We want to elaborate directly to the president how the team has worked, what the purpose was and what we have found,” Taufiqulhadi of NasDem Party said on Monday.
He argued that in the expected meeting, the team would bring together its findings during its 60day probe, including alleged irregularities members claimed to have found relating to the KPK’s performance in eradicating corruption. As many as five suitcases containing administrative documents are ready to be presented, he said.
Under the 2014 Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law, there is neither an obligation nor prohibition for an inquiry team to have a consultation with the president. However, Article 208 Point 4 stipulates that the team’s recommendations must be given to the president at least seven days after the plenary meeting.
Amid a growing public outcry against the inquiry team and mounting support for the KPK, Jokowi had opted not to intervene in the controversial inquiry, arguing that it was part of the House’s internal matters. However, the President had asserted that the antigraft body, which has been deemed trustworthy by the public, must be protected and not weakened.
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