Do Not Regard KPK as Deity: Palace

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko asserted that the amendment of the Corruption Eradication Commission or the KPK Law was the government’s and the House of Representatives’ (DPR) attempt to reform the anti-graft body.

“Don’t regard KPK as a deity. There is no [institution can be considered as] god. There is no human-god here. We need to acknowledge that there is something we must recover,” said Moeldoko at the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, Monday, September 23.

Moeldoko explained one of the matters that must be improved in the KPK was its authority to issue investigation-termination warrants (SP3). “Many cases show that without SP3, how many people will fall victims? Do you want to be a victim? The proof is, it has been four years that the case of RJ Lino was set aside. Why is that so?” he added.

Other than SP3, KPK required supervision because there was no institution that had absolute power, he added. “Someone who is given absolute power is dangerous. There is no absolute power in a democratic country. Even anyone can control the president.”

According to Moeldoko, the KPK must not lose its legitimacy over committing unmeasured actions as the public put so much hope on the anti-graft body.

Moeldoko further stressed that the amended KPK Law was not an attempt to weaken the KPK. “No. the DPR and the government are determined to improve the KPK,” he concluded.

FRISKI RIANA