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Jokowi inaugurates five members of newly formed KPK supervisory council
Jokowi hoped the members’ wealth of experience and expertise would serve them well in their new position.
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Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in South Jakarta. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inaugurated on Friday five members of the newly established Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) supervisory council, as he expressed the hope that the members’ wealth of experience and expertise would serve them well in their new positions.
Tapped by Jokowi to helm the supervisory council was Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean, who formerly served as KPK deputy commissioner between 2003 and 2007, the first term of the antigraft body after it was established.
Tumpak was inaugurated in Friday’s ceremony at the State Palace alongside the council members who include Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP) chairman and former Constitutional Court justice Harjono as well as former Supreme Court justice Artidjo Alkostar.
The other two members are deputy head of Kupang High Court Albertina Ho and Indonesia Sciences Institute (LIPI) senior political researcher Syamsudin Haris.
“We appointed [the KPK supervisory council members] from a diverse background,” Jokowi told reporters on Friday, “We believe this is a good combination that will function well to control and oversee the KPK commissioner.”
The supervisory council was established as mandated by the revised KPK Law, which was passed by the House of Representatives in September.
The revision was strongly opposed by student and antigraft activists given its relatively short deliberation process at the House and the inclusion of articles regarded as curbing the KPK’s independence and authority, including the articles on the supervisory council.
According to the new KPK Law, the council is tasked with, among other roles, overseeing the work of the KPK commissioners, while the antigraft agency’s wiretap search and seizure of evidence must also be carried out with the approval of the council.
“I hope that corruption eradication [efforts] can be conducted systematically so that they have a positive impact on the economy [and] our country,” said Jokowi.
Aware of the criticism directed at the council, Syamsudin argued that the establishment of the KPK supervisory council reflected Jokowi’s antigraft commitment.
“I believe this is a good chance for President Jokowi to show his commitment to the corruption eradication [campaign],” said Syamsudin
