Commission III DPR Member Says Jokowi's Statement on KPK Law Is Inaccurate

Jakarta - Member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Abdullah, disagrees with former President Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi) statement suggesting that the latest version of the KPK Law was initiated by the DPR. The legislator, commonly known as Gus Abduh, pointed out that when the law was revised, the government under Jokowi’s leadership sent a team to the DPR for deliberations.

“The statement by the 7th President Joko Widodo, essentially claiming he played no role in the ratification of the 2019 KPK Law or Law No. 19 of 2019 on the KPK, is inaccurate,” Abdullah told reporters on Sunday (2/15/2026).

The PKB legislator referenced the enactment of the law, which was acknowledged by Acting Minister of Law and Human Rights Tjahjo Kumolo. Abduh said Jokowi also sent a government team during the deliberations at the DPR.

“Although he did not sign it at the time, he sent a government team to participate in deliberating and ratifying the new KPK Law to replace the old one together with the DPR,” Abdullah said.

“The law was then promulgated by Acting Minister of Law and Human Rights Tjahjo Kumolo, which was certainly with the permission of the President at the time,” he added.

Although the Revised KPK Law No. 19 of 2019 was not signed by Jokowi, Abduh noted that by regulation it remains valid and enforceable. Abduh referenced the provisions of the 1945 Constitution, which state that a law remains in effect 30 days after ratification with or without the President’s signature.

“This is in accordance with Article 20 Paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution, which states that every draft law shall be deliberated by the House of Representatives and the President for mutual approval,” Abduh said.

“Furthermore, regarding his not signing the latest KPK Law, it has no effect whatsoever because based on Article 30 Paragraph (5) of the 1945 Constitution, a law remains in effect 30 days after ratification with or without the President’s signature,” he added.

Jokowi’s Statement

Previously, Jokowi agreed with former KPK Chairman Abraham Samad’s proposal to revert the KPK Law to its older version. Jokowi suggested that the current version of the law was initiated by the DPR.

“Yes, I agree, it would be good to revert the KPK Law to the old version, because the revision was initiated by the DPR, you know. Don’t get it wrong — it was the DPR’s initiative,” Jokowi said, as reported by detikJateng on Friday (2/13).

Jokowi acknowledged that the KPK Law was revised during his presidency at the DPR’s initiative. However, he emphasized that he did not sign the revised law.

“Yes, indeed the KPK Law revision happened. At that time, it was revised at the DPR’s initiative, but I did not sign it,” he said.