MP says Asset Forfeiture Bill must guard against foreign interests

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Bimantoro Wiyono, a member of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), said the drafting of the Asset Forfeiture Bill must guard against foreign interests masquerading as efforts to promote opinions or issues that could cause public anxiety or backfire on Indonesia.

He said the bill should have a positive impact in the national interest. Indonesia, he said, is a nation in the process of improving law enforcement.

“There is a great deal of framing of issues and opinions on social media at the moment, which is confusing people on the ground,” Bimantoro said at a Commission III meeting at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He said Commission III also wanted experts invited to provide input on the Asset Forfeiture Bill to help counter opinions and close loopholes that could be exploited by foreign interests.

“It is now easy for all of us to see how the shaping of perspectives seems to have been planned,” he said.

He stressed that problems with law enforcement usually involved only individuals, while many other officials performed their duties properly. Many law enforcers, he said, continued to work in accordance with laws and regulations, upholding the principles of fairness and caution.

“That is why, in my view, we also ask the experts to help counter this among the public. We must not let our country become a victim once again,” Bimantoro said.

He also said that, when implemented, the Asset Forfeiture Law should ensure that confiscated assets are managed effectively and generate the maximum possible state revenue. He noted that the value of many confiscated assets had fallen.

“This is what we do not want. It is also a fact on the ground that, in our own country, the value of many assets declines under management,” he said.