Once Backing Revision, PDIP Now Criticises Jokowi for Wanting Old KPK Law Restored
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has sharply criticised Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who expressed agreement with restoring the old Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) law prior to its revision.
The KPK Law was successfully revised by the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) in September 2019. At that time, Jokowi was the president backed by PDIP, and the party served as the driving force behind the KPK Law revision in the DPR.
Ronny Talapessy, Chairman of the PDIP Central Executive Board’s Legal and Advocacy Division, said Jokowi was seeking attention by supporting the return to the old KPK Law before the revision.
“Jokowi is seeking attention, particularly regarding the restoration of the old KPK Law. Yet all of society knows that the KPK Law was amended during his leadership,” Ronny said in a statement on Tuesday (17 February).
“And now he wants to wash his hands of it. There were many witnesses — national and religious figures who were invited and asked for input on the KPK Law in 2019 — but he took no action at the time,” he continued.
Ronny also assessed that Jokowi’s statement was related to his efforts to champion the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).
Jokowi is currently closely associated with PSI, which is now led by his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep. Jokowi had delivered a briefing at PSI’s National Working Meeting in Makassar, South Sulawesi, at the end of January.
“So I assess his statement as being related to his all-out effort to champion PSI. This is nothing more than an attempt to raise the popularity and electability of PSI,” he said.
Ronny stated that Jokowi’s remarks were not related to genuine anti-corruption efforts. Moreover, he noted, Indonesia’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) stagnated during Jokowi’s administration.
“So my advice is not to pay too much attention to his statement. It would be a shame for our society to be fed untruths by him,” he said.
Previously, President Prabowo had invited a number of figures considered critical of the government, including Abraham Samad Riyanto, who served as KPK Chairman from 2011 to 2015.
Many matters were discussed during the meeting. Abraham Samad himself had proposed that President Prabowo restore the KPK Law to its pre-2019 revision form.
Abraham reasoned that the 2019 revision of the KPK Law had weakened the role and authority of the KPK in combating corruption.
When asked for his response, Jokowi welcomed Abraham Samad’s proposal.
“Yes, I agree, that’s good,” Jokowi replied after watching a Persis Solo versus Madura United match at Manahan Stadium in Solo on Friday (13 February).
The KPK Law was revised in 2019 whilst Jokowi was still serving as president. Many parties assessed that the revision weakened the KPK’s ability to eradicate corruption in Indonesia.
However, Jokowi claimed he had never proposed the amendment to the KPK Law, stating that the legislation was amended on the initiative of the DPR.
“That was the DPR’s initiative. Don’t get it wrong. It was the DPR’s initiative,” he said.
In 2019, PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto had assessed that the proposed KPK Law revision carried a spirit of improvement. Hasto said the revision was important to ensure the anti-corruption body’s performance would improve.
“Everything is in the spirit of improvement,” Hasto said in an official statement in September 2019.
Furthermore, Hasto had emphasised that the revision aimed to strengthen oversight of the KPK and prioritise the prevention of corruption. According to him, this was in line with President Jokowi’s state address at the time.