MAKI Sends Satirical Award Banner to KPK Over Yaqut's House Arrest Status Change, KPK Responds
Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman sent satirical award banners to the KPK building regarding the change in status to house arrest for former Minister of Religious Affairs (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. The KPK responded positively to the shipment as a form of public expression.
“KPK views this as a form of public expression that we receive positively. As a law enforcement institution, KPK is always open to various constructive criticisms, suggestions, and inputs in efforts to eradicate corruption,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters on Tuesday (24/3/2026).
Budi assessed that what MAKI did reflects the high level of public attention. He stated that public participation is an important element in maintaining the integrity of an institution, including the KPK.
“We see this as also reflecting the high level of public attention, expectations, and trust in the law enforcement process carried out by the KPK. Public participation, in various forms, is an important element in maintaining the integrity and accountability of the institution,” he said.
Budi stated that the KPK positions the public as supervisors to ensure every process runs transparently. He said the KPK will continue to keep the space for public participation open.
“KPK positions the public as a strategic partner in eradicating corruption. Not only actively supporting prevention and enforcement efforts, the public also has an important function as a watchdog to ensure every process runs transparently and accountably,” said Budi.
“Therefore, KPK will continue to keep the space for public participation open, as part of the commitment to delivering clean, professional, and integrity-based law enforcement,” he added.
Previously, MAKI Coordinator Boyamin Saiman sent satirical award banners to the KPK building regarding the change in house arrest status for former Minister of Religious Affairs (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. The banner read about the record for changing house arrest for special people.
“Today I am sending five award banner certificates to the KPK. Congratulations on breaking the record, namely the house arrest transfer from MORI, Museum of Real Indonesian People. Special people,” said Boyamin Saiman to reporters on Tuesday (24/3).
Boyamin said the award certificates are hoped to serve as a reminder to the KPK. He brought up the KPK’s step to switch Yaqut’s status to house arrest, which has drawn public criticism.
“And this is also a reminder to the KPK not to toy with public sentiment like that. The public is too smart, not just MAKI. Just check, is there any social media that supports the KPK’s actions? None. The comments on the news also have none,” he said.
He stated that this transfer is a record broken by the KPK since 2003. He said transfers are usually done in the form of release due to illness conditions.
“Well, if someone has been detained and is healthy and then transferred to house arrest, this causes discrimination and damages the system. Because everyone will demand the same thing, and most importantly, Gus Alex who was also detained in the same case, was not transferred either,” he said.
“So with lying and doing it secretly, it makes the people even more annoyed and angry. And I implement that anger in the form of giving an award in the form of a banner that they have broken the record,” he added.
Furthermore, Boyamin decided to still send the award banners even though Yaqut has returned to detention today. It is known that Yaqut is back to serving detention in the KPK detention centre as of today after being on house arrest for several days.
“Even though YCQ is back in the KPK detention centre, the banner is still needed because the house arrest transfer incident for YCQ has occurred, so it is meant as a reminder to the KPK not to repeat unnecessary blunders that damage corruption eradication in the future,” he said.
It is known that Yaqut’s detention was switched to house arrest since Thursday (19/3). KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said the house arrest for Yaqut was carried out after the KPK received a request from the family.
Yaqut’s detention was switched back to detention centre on Monday (23/3). The KPK has re-detained Yaqut today after Yaqut underwent a series of health tests.