Jokowi's Statement on KPK Law Seen as Attempt to Shirk Responsibility
A number of academics have criticised statements made by former president Joko Widodo. Previously, Jokowi said the revision of Law Number 19 of 2019 concerning the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was initiated by the House of Representatives (DPR).
Charles Simabura, a constitutional law lecturer at Andalas University, expressed concern that Jokowi’s statement was an attempt to evade responsibility. “As president during the revision process, Jokowi shares responsibility — it was not solely the DPR’s,” Charles said when contacted on Monday, 16 February 2026.
He explained that under Article 20, paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution, joint approval in the legislative process requires agreement between the DPR and the government.
Therefore, he said, even though Jokowi claimed he did not sign the KPK Law revision draft at the time, the former Jakarta governor still played a role from the deliberation process through to its enactment.
“Logically, it would be impossible for the minister representing the government at that time to make a decision without the president’s approval,” Charles said.
Contacted separately, Muhammad Fauzan, a professor of constitutional law at Jenderal Soedirman University, said Jokowi’s statement about restoring the KPK Law to its pre-revision form cannot be achieved merely by making a public declaration.
If Jokowi believes the KPK Law before its revision was better than the current provisions, Fauzan said, Jokowi needs to communicate with his successor President Prabowo Subianto and colleagues in the DPR.
“A revision cannot be carried out unless the government and the DPR initiate deliberations,” Fauzan said.
On Friday, 13 February, Jokowi expressed his agreement with the proposal to restore the KPK Law to its pre-2019 revision version. He considered the proposal by former KPK chairman Abraham Samad to be a good one.
Jokowi claimed that during his presidency in 2019, he did not interfere in the KPK Law revision. “That revision was a DPR initiative — at that time, it was on the DPR’s initiative,” Jokowi said after watching a football match between Persis Solo and Madura United at Manahan Stadium, Solo.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas said the government would first conduct a review regarding Jokowi’s view that the KPK Law should be restored to its previous version.
However, he did not elaborate on which specific articles would be reviewed. “We will review it within the government,” said the Gerindra Party politician on Monday.
Previously, the 2019 revision of the KPK Law was deemed to have formal defects or problems in its formation process. Deliberations on the KPK Law revision were neither participatory nor transparent, and the drafting and deliberation process was conducted in great haste.