Adhyasta Dirgantara, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – The 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has bluntly stated that the revisions to the old version of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law were an initiative of the House of Representatives (DPR).
The new KPK Law, which was revised during Widodo administration in 2019, is considered to have weakened the anti-corruption agency's performance. Recently Widodo also expressed his agreement that the KPK Law should be revised again.
"Yes, I agree", Widodo asserted after watching a Persis Solo soccer match against Madura United at the Manahan Stadium in Solo city, Central Java, on Friday afternoon February 13.
"Because before it was the DPR's initiative. Don't be mistaken, it was the DPR's initiative", he continued.
According to the father of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, he did not sign the law, which had been passed by the DPR and the government at the time.
"Yes, it was the DPR's initiative at the time. But I didn't sign it", he said.
Following this statement, several political parties in the DPR have rushed to refute Widodo's remarks.
Golkar Party
Sarmuji, secretary general of the Golkar Party and a member of the DPR since 2014, denied Widodo's claim that the 2019 revisions to the KPK Law were solely a DPR initiative.
Sarmuji emphasised that at the time, discussions on revising the old KPK Law were conducted by the DPR and the government, not just the DPR.
"Yes, the process of drafting the law involved both parties yeah, the DPR and the government", Sarmuji said at the Golkar Central Executive Board (DPP) offices in West Jakarta on Friday evening.
Despite this, Sarmuji said that returning the KPK Law to the old version could be discussed again. In this case, Widodo did agree to the return of the old KPK Law.
"Yes, it can be discussed, it can be discussed", he added.
National Awakening Party
DPR Commission III member Abdullah, from the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, said Widodo's statement that he felt he had no role in the revision of the KPK Law was wrong.
This is because Widodo sent a team of government representatives to discuss policy changes related to the anti-corruption agency with the DPR.
"So, the statement by the 7th President, Joko Widodo who essentially said he felt he had no role in the ratification of the 2019 KPK Law or Law Number 19/2019 on the KPK is incorrect", said Abdullah when sought for confirmation on Monday February 16.
"The revisions to the KPK Law were discussed jointly by the DPR and the government", he continued.
The PKB politician also emphasised that Widodo's claim not to have signed the ratified KPK Bill did not mean the head of state rejected the new policy.
Abdullah then quoted Article 20 Paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution, which regulates the process of drafting a law.
"Every draft law is discussed by the House of Representatives and the President for joint approval", said Abdullah.
"And regarding the fact that he did not sign the latest KPK Law, this has no effect whatsoever because based on Article 20 paragraph (5) of the 1945 Constitution, the Law goes into effect 30 days after it is ratified with or without the President's signature", he continued.
Justice and Prosperity Party
Commission III member Nasir Djamil from the Justice and Prosperity (PKS) faction considers it inappropriate for Widodo to claim he never proposed revisions to the KPK Law.
According to Djamil, deliberations on a draft law cannot proceed if either party, whether the executive or legislative, disagrees.
"Therefore, it is highly inappropriate if Pak [Mr] Jokowi actually said he never proposed revisions to the KPK Law", said Djamil when contacted on Tuesday February 17.
He emphasised that in the law-making process, the government plays an equally important role as the DPR in continuing or halting the deliberation process.
"In discussions on a draft law, if one of the parties, whether the executive or legislative disagrees, then the deliberations cannot continue", Djamil explained.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Central Executive Board Chairperson Ronny Talapessy believes that Widodo's statement agreeing to the KPK Law being revised again is an attempt to seek attention and "wash his hands" of the polemic surrounding the weakening of the anti-corruption agency.
Talapessy also accused Widodo of using this in the electoral interests of Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) because the revisions to KPK Law, which weakened the KPK, occurred in 2019 during Widodo's administration.
"I agree with Mas [Brother] Boyamin from MAKI [the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society], that President Jokowi is seeking attention, especially related to the restoration of the old KPK Law. Yet, everyone knows that the KPK Law was revised during his presidency. And now he wants to wash his hands of it", said Talapessy on Tuesday.
According to Talapessy, in 2019 several national and religious figures were invited to provide input on the revisions to the KPK Law. Widodo however was seen to have taken no steps to prevent the regulatory changes that de-fanged the KPK.
"There were many witnesses, national and religious figures, who were invited to provide input on the KPK Law in 2019, but he took no action whatsoever at that time", he said.
Based on this, he believes that Widodo current statement is unrelated to efforts to eradicate corruption.
According to Talapessy, his stance is more politically motivated to boost the electability of the PSI, led by Widodo's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep.
"So, I believe his statement is related to his desperate efforts to fight for the PSI. This is nothing more than [trying to] increasing the PSI's popularity and electability", said Talapessy.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Saat Klaim Jokowi soal Revisi UU KPK Dibantah Partai Politik".]
