DPR Refutes Jokowi's Statement: Impossible to Discuss Laws Without Presidential Letter
Jakarta, VIVA – Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, has affirmed that the legislature cannot proceed with any bill revision without a presidential letter, known as a surpres.
Cucun's statement directly contradicts remarks by seventh President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who claimed he did not sign the revised KPK Law.
"The public is already well-informed — he was the president. How could the DPR possibly discuss a law without a presidential letter?" Cucun said at the Parliamentary Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
He emphasised that all legislation processed by the DPR must go through a presidential letter.
"The public is smart enough now to know that no law can proceed without a letter from the president," he explained.
Meanwhile, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi confirmed that the government has no plans to revert the KPK Law to its previous version.
"There are none. We haven't discussed it," Prasetyo said.
Prasetyo stated that there was no discussion regarding the KPK Law during President Prabowo's meeting with former KPK Chairman Abraham Samad. He stressed that the government has no intention of discussing the KPK Law.
"There was nothing discussed about it during the meeting with Abraham. There was absolutely no discussion about that matter," he said.
"There is none. There is no intention to discuss it," he added.
Previously, Jokowi had expressed agreement with former KPK Chairman Abraham Samad's proposal to restore the KPK Law to its original version. Jokowi noted that the revised version was initiated by the DPR.
"Yes, I agree, it would be good to return the KPK Law to the old version, because the revision was the DPR's initiative. Let's be clear about that — it was the DPR's initiative," Jokowi said on Friday, 13 February 2026.
Jokowi acknowledged that the KPK Law was revised during his presidency at the DPR's initiative. However, he maintained that he did not sign the revised legislation.
"Yes, indeed the KPK Law was revised. At that time, it was revised on the DPR's initiative, but I did not sign it," he said.
Cucun's statement directly contradicts remarks by seventh President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who claimed he did not sign the revised KPK Law.
"The public is already well-informed — he was the president. How could the DPR possibly discuss a law without a presidential letter?" Cucun said at the Parliamentary Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
He emphasised that all legislation processed by the DPR must go through a presidential letter.
"The public is smart enough now to know that no law can proceed without a letter from the president," he explained.
Meanwhile, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi confirmed that the government has no plans to revert the KPK Law to its previous version.
"There are none. We haven't discussed it," Prasetyo said.
Prasetyo stated that there was no discussion regarding the KPK Law during President Prabowo's meeting with former KPK Chairman Abraham Samad. He stressed that the government has no intention of discussing the KPK Law.
"There was nothing discussed about it during the meeting with Abraham. There was absolutely no discussion about that matter," he said.
"There is none. There is no intention to discuss it," he added.
Previously, Jokowi had expressed agreement with former KPK Chairman Abraham Samad's proposal to restore the KPK Law to its original version. Jokowi noted that the revised version was initiated by the DPR.
"Yes, I agree, it would be good to return the KPK Law to the old version, because the revision was the DPR's initiative. Let's be clear about that — it was the DPR's initiative," Jokowi said on Friday, 13 February 2026.
Jokowi acknowledged that the KPK Law was revised during his presidency at the DPR's initiative. However, he maintained that he did not sign the revised legislation.
"Yes, indeed the KPK Law was revised. At that time, it was revised on the DPR's initiative, but I did not sign it," he said.