The president is consistent in his approach that the revision of the law must be meant to strengthen the KPK ..."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The revision of Law No. 30 of 2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) must be aimed at strengthening the anti-graft agency, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated.

The Parliament, which had proposed the revision, must first obtain a permit from the KPK supervisors prior to wiretapping someone, Ari Dwipayana of the Presidential Communication Team noted.

"And it is still in the process there (at the Parliament). Do not ask me," the president was quoted as saying.

The House of Representatives (DPR) has been deliberating a revision of the law. In its latest meeting on Feb. 10, several political party factions agreed on the revision process.

The revision of the law on KPK was proposed by six out of the 10 political party factions in the DPR.

President Jokowi had earlier strongly rejected the revision of the law if it weakened the power of the institution, presidential spokesman Johan Budi stated here on Tuesday.

"If the revision is intended to reduce the KPKs power, then the president has firmly stated that the government will withdraw from participating in the discussion on the revision of the law," he affirmed.

"The president is consistent in his approach that the revision of the law must be meant to strengthen the KPK, and if the revision is intended to weaken it, then the government will withdraw from joining in the discussion," he emphasized.

According to Budi, the revision that would weaken the KPK could, for instance, be in the form of limiting or curtailing the authority so far held by the anti-graft body in ways such as necessitating the institution to seek a permit from the court if it wanted to conduct wiretapping activities.

"Eradicating or reducing the KPKs authority to prosecute will also weaken the agency. The president does not agree to the efforts aimed at weakening the KPK," he remarked.

Budi noted that the president would take into account the peoples objections that had surfaced recently in connection with the proposed revision of the KPK law.
(Uu.F001/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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