Jokowi Agrees to Revert KPK Law to Old Version, KPK Leadership Responds

Jakarta - Seventh President of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has agreed that the KPK Law should be reverted to its old version. KPK Deputy Chairman Johanis Tanak responded to Jokowi’s proposal.

“What exactly is there to revert? A law isn’t something you can borrow and return after you’re done using it,” Tanak said when contacted on Sunday (15/2/2026).

Tanak said the KPK is currently operating based on both the old and new laws. He emphasized that the KPK as an anti-corruption institution is focused on preventing and eradicating corruption.

“Right now, the KPK operates based on both the old KPK Law and the new KPK Law. Under the new KPK Law, the legal status of KPK employees has become clear as civil servants (ASN),” he said.

“If you want the KPK to work independently without interference from other institutions, the amendment to the KPK Law should only concern placing the KPK within the Judicial branch. So the institutions within the Judicial branch would consist of the Supreme Court and the KPK. Both the Supreme Court and the KPK would each stand independently—the Supreme Court standing independently within the Judicial branch, and likewise the KPK standing independently within the Judicial branch,” he added.

Previously, Jokowi agreed with former KPK Chairman Abraham Samad’s proposal to revert the KPK Law to its old version. Jokowi noted that the revised version of the law was initiated by the House of Representatives (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. Don’t get it wrong—it was a DPR initiative,” Jokowi said, as reported by detikJateng on Friday (13/2).

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 was revised. At that time it was revised at the DPR’s initiative, but I did not sign it,” he said.