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Civil society groups urge House to reject KPK Law amendment
Jakarta Post - February 9, 2016
The coalition, which includes Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Transparency International Indonesia (TII) and the Indonesia Budget Center, handed over an online petition entitled "Don't Kill the KPK", which drew more than 56,000 signatories, to the House Legislation Body (Baleg) at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday.
"If the House supports the idea of strengthening the KPK, it must refuse the law amendment, just like what the Gerindra Party has done," ICW researcher Donal Fariz said in a press conference at the House complex on Tuesday.
The online petition on the rejection of the 2002 KPK Law revision was initiated by Suryo Bagus, an alumnus of the ICW's Anticorruption School (SAKTI) program. As of Monday, 56,865 people had signed the petition, leaving messages of disappointment for the House over its plan to amend the law.
"We hope Baleg can listen to the public's suggestions," said Donal. He appreciated the stance taken by both the Gerindra Party and its chairman, Prabowo Subianto, over the planned KPK Law revision, adding he hoped that other parties could take the same path.
In the petition, the coalition also urged the House to cancel the deliberation of the KPK Law draft revision and asked Baleg to consider the impact of the amendment on corruption eradication measures in Indonesia.
The coalition urged the government, especially President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, to reject discussions on the KPK Law draft revision with the House. The coalition urged Jokowi to pull the draft from the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) 2015-2019 as well.
Baleg started discussions on the KPK Law revision on Feb. 1, when it heard arguments from supporters of the law amendment. It was also reported that Baleg had delayed the establishment of a working committee (Panja) on the KPK Law amendment due to complicated dynamics caused by sharp differences of opinion among political party factions in the House.
The 2002 KPK Law draft revision is among priority bills listed in the 2016 Prolegnas. House speaker Ade Komarudin recently said the legislative body was targeting to finish the deliberation of 37 out of 40 priority bills in the 2016 Prolegnas this year.
Meanwhile, Baleg chairman Supratman Andi Agtas hoped suggestions from the public could give the body good advice in harmonizing the KPK Law draft revision.
As many as 45 House members support the KPK Law amendment. They comprise 15 lawmakers from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), 11 members from the NasDem Party, nine members of the Golkar Party, five members of the United Development Party (PPP), three members of the Hanura Party and two members of the National Awakening Party (PKB). (ebf)(+)
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