Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will urge the House of Representatives (DPR) to promptly ratify the Asset Confiscation Bill into law, according to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD.

"(The bill) is now at the DPR, and Mr. President and the government will push for (the bill's) passing and urge for the ratification to take place soon," Mahfud informed in a press statement that was broadcast on Kemenkopolhukam RI’s YouTube channel and accessed from here on Friday.

Mahfud conveyed this while meeting the coordinator of non-governmental organization Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI), Boyamin Saiman, at the ministry’s office here on Friday.

He said that the Asset Confiscation Bill’s ratification is urgently needed because it would provide a legal basis for confiscating the assets of convicts involved in corruption cases and returning the assets to the government for public benefit.

The President is continuously monitoring the deliberations on the bill, he noted.

"The President has been constantly asking about the current progress. I said the process is now at the DPR RI and (has been included) in the national legislative programs. Earlier, (the government) proposed two bills on cash transaction limit and asset confiscation, but we agreed to hold the former bill and continue with the Asset Confiscation Bill," Mahfud informed.

Meanwhile, Saiman said that he conveyed residents' grievances about the remission of the prison sentences of some corrupt convicts during the meeting with the coordinating minister.

"On this blessed Friday, my meeting with Mahfud is to convey residents' grievances to the parole received by a dozen corruption convicts," he stated.

The MAKI coordinator then expressed his support for the Asset Confiscation Bill and said he hoped the coordinating minister would ensure the bill's quick ratification by the parliament.

"I ask Mr. Mahfud to exert his effort to ensure the bill is passed by DPR RI, particularly (as the bill) has been included in the legislative program," he added.

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Translator: Tri Meilani A, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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