DPR Deems Jokowi's Statement on KPK Law Inaccurate, Here's Why

Jakarta, VIVA – A member of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, Abdullah, disagreed with former seventh President Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi) statement that the revision of Law Number 19 of 2019 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was solely a DPR initiative, despite Jokowi not signing it.

“The statement by the seventh President Joko Widodo, which essentially suggests he played no role in the enactment of the 2019 KPK Law or Law Number 19 of 2019 on the KPK, is inaccurate,” said Abdullah in a written statement cited on Monday, 16 February 2026.

The member of the DPR’s Legislation Body (Baleg) explained that at the time, Jokowi sent a team representing the government to discuss the revision of the KPK Law. This means the revision was discussed jointly by both the DPR and the government.

He also affirmed that Jokowi’s decision not to sign the revised KPK Law does not constitutionally mean that he rejected the new law.

“This is in accordance with Article 20 paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution, which states that every draft law shall be discussed by the House of Representatives and the President to obtain mutual approval,” said Abdullah.

“Furthermore, regarding the fact that the latest KPK Law was not signed by him, this has no effect whatsoever because, under Article 20 paragraph (5) of the 1945 Constitution, a law remains in force 30 days after its enactment with or without the President’s signature,” he added.

Previously, Jokowi had endorsed former KPK Chairman Abraham Samad’s proposal to revert the KPK Law to its earlier version. Jokowi noted that the revised version was the result of a DPR initiative.

“Yes, I agree, it would be good [to revert the KPK Law to the old version], because that [the KPK Law revision] was a DPR initiative. Let there be no mistake, it was a DPR initiative,” said Jokowi on Friday, 13 February 2026.

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

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