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Jokowi needs to step in, rescue KPK: Activists
Amid intensive efforts in the House of Representatives (DPR) to push through a legal revision that critics say would weaken the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the fate of the antigraft body lies in the hands of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who has the power to block the maneuver.
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Resistance: A Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) staff member carries flowers to be given to members of the public during a rally on the sidelines of a Car Free Day event at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Sunday. She also holds a piece of paper with a message that highlights KPK employees’ opposition to a revision of the 2002 KPK Law, which they say will weaken the antigraft body. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
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o:p>Amid intensive efforts in the House of Representatives (DPR) to push through a legal revision that critics say would weaken the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the fate of the antigraft body lies in the hands of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
With his executive power, the President has the authority to reject discussing the KPK Law revision proposed by the legislators, several articles of which would reportedly weaken the anticorruption body’s authority in investigations.
The House also plans to speed up the deliberation of two other bills, one on correctional procedures and the other on the Criminal Code, both of which contain articles that reportedly also have the potential to curb the authority of the KPK.
The KPK and observers have called the DPR plans a "systematic" and "serious" effort to undermine the antigraft body that would be a boon for corrupt officials. The law revisions would weaken almost the entire corruption eradication system in the country, from the institution itself to preliminary-stage investigations and to the imprisonment of people found guilty.
"The President should state his disapproval clearly by not letting any of those bills be passed into law," Kurnia Ramadhana from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said on Saturday.
On Friday, KPK chairman Agus Raharjo sent a letter to Jokowi, asking the President to reject the deliberation of the KPK bill. Agus said weak corruption eradication could also affect the country’s economic growth, as it would scare investors.
"The President's role is very important [...]. If the President is not willing to approve it, the bill will never become law. If the President wants the KPK to be strong, then the KPK will be strong," he said.
