Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Jessi Carina, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has asked President Prabowo Subianto not to stop at statements of support for the Draft Law on Aset Forfiture (RUU Perampasan Aset) and is calling on the president to realise the bill so it is not just a commitment.
"Don't keep making commitments, this is no longer the [election] campaign period", said ICW researcher Almas Sjafrina when contacted by Kompas.com on Sunday May 4. Sjafrina believes that this support needs to be realised through concrete steps, especially by encouraging the political parties and the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately discuss the bill.
According to Sjafrina, so far public pressure has not been strong enough to make the DPR discuss the bill, therefore she considers that the position of the president, moreover one who is the chairperson of a political party, is very strategic in pushing through legislation process.
"The president's commitment to the asset forfeiture bill for us should be followed by the president putting pressure on the parties and the DPR to immediately discuss the asset forfeiture bill", said Sjafrina.
She emphasised that political support by the president should be the main driver given that the bill has been delayed for a long time.
"Public pressure has not been able to make the plan to discuss the forfeiture bill be taken seriously. Pressure from the president, moreover if it's supported by many parties and he is also the general chairperson of a party, will be quite enough to get the bill discussed", she said.
The Draft Law on Asset Forfiture is considered an important instrument in eradicating corruption because it allows for the confiscation of assets resulting form criminal acts without depending on a court ruling first. Up until now however, the bill has been stuck at the legislative table.
Most recently, President Prabowo expressed his support for bill to be discussed in a speech on International Labour Day or May Day at the National Monument (Monas) in Jakarta on Thursday May 1.
"Sisters and brothers, in the context of eradicating corruption, I support the law on asset forfeiture. I support it!", said Prabowo from the stage.
Prabowo followed up his call by inviting workers to continue to resist corruption in Indonesia. "How? Will we continue to resist corruptors?", Prabowo asked, which was answered by cheers of agreement by the hundreds of thousands of workers who packed into the Monas field.
- Suspicions rife that House delaying asset seizure bill for fear it could boomerang. Kompas.com – July 13, 2023
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Prabowo Dukung RUU Perampasan Aset, ICW: Jangan Komitmen Terus, Ini Bukan Masa Kampanye".]
