PDIP Politician Says Jokowi Cannot 'Wash His Hands' of KPK Law Revision
PDI Perjuangan politician Aria Bima has argued that seventh President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) cannot distance himself from the revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission Law (KPK Law) that took place in 2019.
“As the seventh, sixth, or fifth president, I believe there is still a responsibility. Not as a private individual, but as a president, a former president,” Bima said at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Thursday (19 February).
On the other hand, he argued that the KPK Law does not need to be reverted to its previous version.
According to Bima, the future KPK Law must be more progressive, particularly in overseeing policies and the management of mineral resources, which he considers prone to leakage.
“It must also be able to reach beyond merely observing matters related to the state budget, but also policies concerning mineral resources. Natural resources must be safeguarded and utilised to the greatest extent possible for the benefit of the people,” he said.
Separately, PDI Perjuangan Central Board chairman Said Abdullah argued that discussions regarding legislation cannot be subject to the whims of those in power.
“When we talk about laws, we are not talking about the tastes of those in power. When I am in power, I change the law. When I am no longer in power, then the law I changed turns out to be wrong, so let’s change it again. It should not work like that,” Said stated.
Said said that the decline in Indonesia’s corruption perception index must serve as a moment for collective improvement.
“We should not leap from one point to another. Let us put things in order — we have only just begun amending the bill that has become the Criminal Code Law; let us finish that first. After that, let us consider carefully what the objective conditions look like. This is not about Abraham Samad, nor about Jokowi. It has nothing to do with any of them, because this is a matter for the nation,” Said remarked.
Jokowi had previously stated that he agreed with former KPK chairman Abraham Samad’s proposal to revert the KPK Law to its earlier version. Jokowi noted that the revised version of the KPK Law was the result of a House of Representatives initiative.
Jokowi even claimed he was not involved in the 2019 revision of the KPK Law. At the time, he said he did not sign off on the revision’s outcome.
“Yes, I agree, that’s good,” Jokowi responded after watching Persis Solo play against Madura United at Manahan Stadium in Solo on Friday (13 February).