Megawati Criticises MK and KPK: This Was My Creation, How Did It End Up Like This?

JAKARTA - Indonesia’s fifth President, Megawati Soekarnoputri, took a swipe at the performance of two institutions she founded, the Constitutional Court (MK) and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). “When I saw the case at the MK, I kept thinking, is this my creation or what’s wrong? Yes, how did it end up like that? Alright then,” Megawati said in a speech at the conferment of the Emeritus Professor title for former Constitutional Court Justice Arief Hidayat at Borobudur University, Jakarta, on Saturday (2/5/2026). She went on to mention several institutions she established during her administration between 2001 and 2004. Some of the institutions mentioned include the Judicial Commission (KY), National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS), National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). “Now, with the KPK, how can it be like that? It feels like the statements it should make aren’t like that,” Megawati criticised. Megawati continued by recounting the process of establishing other institutions and the challenges she faced. For example, when forming the Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88), “The TNI side said, Madam, you don’t need it, we can handle it. (Megawati replied) Well, first look at the regulations, what’s the TNI for and what’s the police for,” she added. Then, Megawati mentioned establishing the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), National Commission on Child Protection (Komnas Anak), and the Police Women’s Academy (Sekolah Polwan). “All these institutions reflect how Indonesia’s political, economic, and legal systems are based on Pancasila and the functioning of people’s sovereignty carried out through direct presidential elections,” said Megawati. On Saturday (2/5/2026), Megawati attended the conferment of the Emeritus Professor title in Constitutional Law from Borobudur University to former Constitutional Court Justice Arief Hidayat. Several officials and former state leaders were present at the event, such as former Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Mahfud MD; former Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly; and Chief of the Public Prosecutors’ Office for Special Crimes Asep Nana Mulyana. Meanwhile, several former fellow MK justices of Arief were also seen, such as Suhartoyo and Saldi Isra.