TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR) is gearing up to pass the Anti-terrorism bill this week. Muhammad Syafii, chairman of the special committee for the Anti-terrorism Law discussion, said the bill will likely be passed this Friday, May 25.

"We will have meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, and on Friday there will be a plenary session for the passing [of the bill]," he said on Monday, May 21.

Syafii said that the bill is 99.9 percent completed. The only thing that needs to be agreed upon is about the definition of terrorism, which will be discussed on a meeting tomorrow.

The Gerindra politician said the government, the Chief of Police, as well as relevant ministers have all agreed that the definition of terrorism should include political motives. However this opinion is opposed by the Densus 88 anti-terror squad.

Syafii said that Densus 88 rejects that inclusion since it would limit their movements, meaning that the squad cannot make a bust if terror suspects don’t have political motives behind their actions.

The government is pressed to finalize the law revision following a series of terror attacks, from the Mako Brimob riot to the church bombings in Surabaya.

President Joko Widodo said if the revision is not completed by June, he would resort to issuing a government regulation in lieu of the law (Perppu).

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI