Ma'ruf Amin Responds to Plan to Reinstate Old KPK Law

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia – Thirteenth Vice President of Indonesia K.H. Ma’ruf Amin has responded to the proposal to reinstate Law No. 30 of 2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Ma’ruf sees nothing wrong with reverting to the old law if many parties feel the KPK’s performance in eradicating corruption has declined.

“I think if everyone considers that the KPK currently lacks performance because of the Law, then it should be reverted,” Ma’ruf said at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Office in Jakarta on Saturday (14/2).

The issue of reinstating the old KPK Law has recently resurfaced in public discourse, particularly after KPK Chairman for the 2011-2015 period Abraham Samad Riyanto said he had conveyed the proposal to President Prabowo Subianto.

Abraham Samad himself had proposed that President Prabowo reinstate the KPK Law to its pre-2019 revision version. He argued that the 2019 revision of the KPK Law had weakened the KPK’s role and authority in eradicating corruption.

In response to the proposal, seventh President of Indonesia Joko Widodo, who was serving as president when the KPK bill was ratified, supported the idea. Jokowi reflected that the bill was originally a DPR initiative. He even reiterated that he did not sign the law after it was passed in the Plenary Session.

“Yes, I agree, that’s good,” Jokowi replied after watching a Persis Solo match against Madura United at Manahan Stadium in Solo on Friday (13/2).

The 2019 revision of the KPK Law sparked a massive wave of rejection that was labeled at the time as “Reformasi Dikorupsi” (Reform Corrupted).