TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Head Abraham Samad said the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) had weakened efforts to eradicate corruption in the country.
The indication was the fact that the DPR has approved the amendment to the Law on MPR (People’s Consultative Assembly), DPR, DPRD (Regional Legislative Council), and DPD (Regional Representatives Council), - known as UU MD3.
"By approving the amendment to the law, which protects itself, it shows that DPR has no will to combat corruptions," Abraham said yesterday.
The amendment would only give impunity for DPR members from being brought to justice. "In my opinion, that should not happen," Abraham said.
However, the amendment does not apply for KPK because the body works based on the lex specialis Law on KPK and Law on Anti Corruption, Abraham added.
"KPK does not have to abide by the amended UU MD3," he added.
"KPK is not worried. However, what’s worrying is the barriers to be faced by prosecutors and the police in conducting the investigation," Abraham said.
On July 8, the House approved the amendment to the UU MD3, in which one of the Articles regulates the summons or requests for questioning from members of the DPR for an investigation.
Article 245 Paragraph 1 UU MD3 states that summons or requests for questioning for an investigation to a DPR member implicating in a crime must have a written approval from the DPR Honorary Council.
In the meantime, Article 2 of the Law gives a period of 30 days for the summons.
Echoing the same sentiment, KPK Deputy Chairman Busyro Muqoddas expressed his suspicion of the amendment to the law.
"The revision was deliberated and approved on the eve before the Presidential election on July 9," he said yesterday.
Busyro also considered that Article 2, Paragraph 245 of UU MD3 had no benefits.
"What’s the point of lengthening the bureaucracy, while law enforcement of the corruption cases must be done quickly in order to prevent the evidence from being eliminated by the potential suspects," he said.
MUHAMAD RIZKI
