DPR Leadership Rebukes Jokowi: No Law Can Be Made Without Presidential Letter
Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal has stated that the drafting of any law in the DPR is impossible without a Presidential Letter (Surpres).
He made the remarks when asked by journalists about his response to statements by seventh President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) regarding the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law.
Jokowi has voiced support for the idea of revising the KPK Law back to its previous version, claiming he was not involved in the earlier legislative amendment.
“The public is already astute — he was the President,” said Cucun after attending a coordination meeting with the government on the Sumatran disaster at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (18 February).
According to Cucun, deliberation on any law can only proceed after a Surpres has been issued. Typically, the Surpres contains the assignment of government representatives to discuss a draft bill.
“It is impossible for any law to proceed without a letter from the President,” he said.
Meanwhile, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi, who was also present at the same event, affirmed that the government has no plans to revert the KPK Law to its previous version.
“We haven’t discussed it,” said Prasetyo.
Prasetyo was unfazed when asked about Jokowi’s support for returning the KPK Law to its original version. He stressed that the discourse on revising the KPK Law has no connection to Jokowi.
“What does this have to do with Pak Jokowi? Nothing. There’s nothing yet,” he added.
Jokowi had previously stated his agreement with former KPK Chairman Abraham Samad’s proposal to revert the KPK Law to its original version. Jokowi suggested that the revised version of the KPK Law was a DPR initiative.
Jokowi even claimed he was not involved in the 2019 revision of the KPK Law. At the time, he said he did not sign the revised legislation.
“Yes, I agree, that’s good,” Jokowi responded after watching the Persis Solo versus Madura United match at Manahan Stadium in Solo on Friday (13 February).
The former president said the KPK Law was revised during his presidency at the DPR’s initiative, but that he did not sign the resulting legislation.
The process of drafting the KPK Bill at the time was highly controversial and sparked mass demonstrations. Protesters coined the term “Reformasi Dikorupsi” (Reform Corrupted) in protest against the passage of the new KPK Law.