"The revision of the KPK law will be suspended until next year," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government has agreed to suspend the revision of the anti-graft agency (KPK) law, stated Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.

"The revision of the KPK law will be suspended until next year," Panjaitan noted here on Thursday.

However, he said the government is still discussing four issues related to the KPK Law: the issuance of a warrant to terminate investigation (SP3), the formation of a supervisory board, the wiretapping authority, and the appointment of independent investigators.

"These problems are being discussed with the Supreme Court. How about the opinion of the public regarding a warrant to terminate the SP3," he affirmed.

The second issue is the formation of a board of trustees.

"The board will be set up by the government and will comprise several figures," he remarked.

The third issue is related to wiretapping authority.

"Tapping parameters should be clearly defined. We see that the agency has procedures to tap. If it is good, tapping should be conducted," he pointed out.

The fourth issue is about the appointment of an independent investigator.

"The supervisor should verify the candidate for the post of independent investigator. There should be no problem, but this is still in the initial phase of discussion. We will discuss it completely by next year," he revealed.

However, the government has remained committed to its stance to strengthen the KPK.

A political observer from Jayabaya University Igor Dirgantara stated on Tuesday that the discourse on revising the KPK law would only create a political uproar or weaken the governments political authority.

"The talks on revising the KPK law have the potential to create a political uproar. In view of this, the president must immediately take firm action against it. Do not allow current efforts to overcome the economic slowdown to be followed by the weakening of the presidents authority to eradicate corruption," he affirmed.

Dirgantara suggested postponing the revision and said the House of Representatives (DPR) should focus on selecting nominees for KPKs future leadership, the names for which were submitted by the government to them.

"If the revision does occur and the draft comes from the government, it must even protect the KPK or minimally cover only the code of ethics for KPK commissioners and not the other provisions," he affirmed.

He reminded that corruption is an extraordinary crime similar to narcotic and terrorism crimes, and so, what is needed is strengthening the KPK and not weakening it.

"In other countries where corruption is minimal, anti-corruption agencies outside the police and the prosecutors office still exist. Various surveys reveal that the KPK has been the institution most trusted by the public so far. So, the president must be firm to act against the revision of the KPK law," he noted.

Igor warned that a delay in the selection of would-be KPK commissioners due to the KPK law revision discourse had the potential to create a momentum for certain DPR members to select only future KPK leaders who meet their interest in revising the KPK law to weaken the institution.

Seconding Igors statement, DPRs deputy speaker from the Democrat Party Agus Hermanto remarked that the KPK should continue to implement the existing law in line with the demand of the partys constituents.

"Most Democrat Party constituents do not yet want a revision. In view of this, the Democrat Party believes that revising the KPK law is not yet urgent. It will even be wrong to continue to discuss it. Several of its discussions would even result in the goal not being met," he stated at the parliament building on Tuesday.

A group of lawmakers from the PDIP, Golkar, Nasdem, PKB, Hanura, and PPP factions had recently proposed a draft law on the KPK, prompting protests from various quarters who viewed the move as a means to reduce the powers of the KPK(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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