I hope that the KPK employees, with good integrity and reputation and prominent in fighting corruption though not having cleared the test, would not be dismissed but be considered and prioritized to become PPPK personnel
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the House of Representatives Pangeran Khairul Saleh urged the anti-graft body to not dismiss senior investigators, with integrity and good reputation, for not clearing a civic knowledge test (TWK), necessitated for changing its employees' status to civil servants.

Saleh suggested that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) give consideration and priority to such senior investigators to become government employees under a work agreement (PPPK).

"I hope that the KPK employees, with good integrity and reputation and prominent in fighting corruption though not having cleared the test, would not be dismissed but be considered and prioritized to become PPPK personnel," the legislator affirmed here on Wednesday.

They should be given an opportunity to continue their services in helping the agency eradicate corruption in Indonesia.

Saleh is aware of the process of changing the status of a KPK employee to a State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in accordance with Law Number 19 of 2019 on the KPK and Government Regulation Number 41 of 2020.

The revised KPK Law, passed following a speedy deliberation at the House of Representatives in 2019, mandates that all earlier independent employees of the agency become civil servants.

Saleh noted that the consequence of this rule is that KPK employees will undergo various tests before becoming ASN, one of which is the nationalism test.

"The TWK includes integrity in the nation and state as well as loyalty to Pancasila, UUD 1945, NKRI and neutrality and anti-radicalism," he revealed.

The KPK recently announced that 75 employees, including senior investigators handling major corruption cases, did not clear the test.

Hence, they did not meet the requirements to become civil servants and would not be disabled, but be requested to hand over their duties and responsibilities to their direct superiors.

Acting KPK spokesman Ali Fikri noted in a statement on May 11, 2021, that the handover of tasks was deemed necessary to ensure the effectiveness of implementation of duties at the KPK.

"In KPK's letter, the employees are urged to hand over their duties and responsibilities to their direct superiors until a further decision is taken," he stated.

Among those failing the test to become civil servants are senior investigators Novel Baswedan and Yudi Purnomo, union chairman at the KPK, reportedly handling major grave cases.

Several parties have launched protests since they believe some questions of the tests are irrelevant to the employees' functions and jobs and also perceived as being sexist and violate the employees' privacy.

Some questions in the tests pertained to what they did when they were dating someone, whether they read "qunut" prayers, and whether they greeted other faith followers during their religious holiday.

A female employee was also asked why she has not gotten married and whether she would be willing to be a second wife. Related news: Anti-graft body imposes overseas travel ban on lawmaker
Related news: Anti-graft body prevented Rp592.4 trillion losses to state in 2020
Related news: Novel Baswedan pins no hopes on "theatrical court" for verdict


Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021