DPR Member: Jokowi's Claims on KPK Law Revision Are Inaccurate
A member of the House of Representatives' Commission III, Abdullah, has identified errors in former President Joko Widodo's statements regarding the revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission Law (KPK Law) in 2019. Abdullah disagreed with Jokowi's assertion that the revision of Law Number 19 of 2019 was solely a DPR initiative.
"The statement by the seventh President, Joko Widodo, suggesting he played no role in the ratification of the 2019 KPK Law is inaccurate," said the man commonly known as Gus Abduh when contacted on Monday, 16 February 2026.
The Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (National Awakening Party) politician explained that every piece of legislation produced by the DPR must be discussed and approved jointly with the government. In 2019, Abduh noted, Jokowi also sent government representatives to discuss the KPK Law revision with members of parliament.
This is also consistent with Article 20, paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution, which stipulates that every draft law shall be discussed by the DPR and the President to obtain mutual approval.
Furthermore, Abduh emphasised that Jokowi's reluctance to sign the revised KPK Law could not invalidate its enactment. "This had no effect whatsoever because, under Article 20, paragraph 5 of the 1945 Constitution, a law remains in force 30 days after ratification with or without the President's signature," he said.
The father of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka had previously responded to a number of questions about the KPK Law, which resurfaced after former KPK Chairman Abraham Samad proposed that the KPK Law be restored to its pre-2019 revision form. Jokowi said he agreed with Abraham Samad's proposal.
Additionally, the former Governor of Jakarta stated that the KPK Law revision was a DPR initiative. He stressed that it was not the government that proposed the changes to the law.
"Because the revision was a DPR initiative at the time. It was indeed at the DPR's initiative," Jokowi said when met after watching a Persis Solo versus Madura United match at Manahan Stadium, Solo, Central Java, on Friday, 13 February 2026.
Jokowi also maintained that he never signed the revised KPK Law. "It was revised, but I did not sign it," he said.
In 2019, the DPR and the government agreed to revise the KPK Law. The revision ultimately weakened the KPK. For instance, although the commission was declared to remain independent, it was placed within the executive branch. All KPK employees were also converted to civil servant status (ASN).
Furthermore, the KPK was granted the authority to discontinue investigations and prosecutions. The commission was also required to seek permission from the KPK Supervisory Board — an institution established as a result of the revision — when conducting sting operations, seizures and searches.
The revised law was subsequently acted upon by the then KPK Chairman, Firli Bahuri, who conducted a national insight test as part of the process of converting KPK employees to civil servant status. This national insight test became a pretext for the KPK leadership to dismiss 57 investigators and detectives of integrity, including Novel Baswedan, Harun Al Rasyid and Yudi Purnomo Harahap.
"The statement by the seventh President, Joko Widodo, suggesting he played no role in the ratification of the 2019 KPK Law is inaccurate," said the man commonly known as Gus Abduh when contacted on Monday, 16 February 2026.
The Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (National Awakening Party) politician explained that every piece of legislation produced by the DPR must be discussed and approved jointly with the government. In 2019, Abduh noted, Jokowi also sent government representatives to discuss the KPK Law revision with members of parliament.
This is also consistent with Article 20, paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution, which stipulates that every draft law shall be discussed by the DPR and the President to obtain mutual approval.
Furthermore, Abduh emphasised that Jokowi's reluctance to sign the revised KPK Law could not invalidate its enactment. "This had no effect whatsoever because, under Article 20, paragraph 5 of the 1945 Constitution, a law remains in force 30 days after ratification with or without the President's signature," he said.
The father of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka had previously responded to a number of questions about the KPK Law, which resurfaced after former KPK Chairman Abraham Samad proposed that the KPK Law be restored to its pre-2019 revision form. Jokowi said he agreed with Abraham Samad's proposal.
Additionally, the former Governor of Jakarta stated that the KPK Law revision was a DPR initiative. He stressed that it was not the government that proposed the changes to the law.
"Because the revision was a DPR initiative at the time. It was indeed at the DPR's initiative," Jokowi said when met after watching a Persis Solo versus Madura United match at Manahan Stadium, Solo, Central Java, on Friday, 13 February 2026.
Jokowi also maintained that he never signed the revised KPK Law. "It was revised, but I did not sign it," he said.
In 2019, the DPR and the government agreed to revise the KPK Law. The revision ultimately weakened the KPK. For instance, although the commission was declared to remain independent, it was placed within the executive branch. All KPK employees were also converted to civil servant status (ASN).
Furthermore, the KPK was granted the authority to discontinue investigations and prosecutions. The commission was also required to seek permission from the KPK Supervisory Board — an institution established as a result of the revision — when conducting sting operations, seizures and searches.
The revised law was subsequently acted upon by the then KPK Chairman, Firli Bahuri, who conducted a national insight test as part of the process of converting KPK employees to civil servant status. This national insight test became a pretext for the KPK leadership to dismiss 57 investigators and detectives of integrity, including Novel Baswedan, Harun Al Rasyid and Yudi Purnomo Harahap.