Jokowi Mulls to Issue Perppu on KPK

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said he will consider the issuance of the president regulation in lieu of law on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) following the massive protest against the amended KPK Law.

“There are many suggestions delivered to us regarding the KPK Law which has been ratified, especially to issue perppu. We will immediately calculate, review it and after we come to a decision later, we will announce it,” said the President after a meeting with cultural and religious figures at Merdeka Palace today, September 26.

Earlier, Widodo refused to issue perppu as it might only be issued when there is a legal vacuum and during an emergency situation. If the public rejected the law revisions ratified by the House of Representatives (DPR), they could file a judicial review to the Constitutional Court.

Since the initial discussion, the revisions of the KPK law sparked public controversy and rejected by anti-graft activists who deemed its several articles would weaken the KPK. Besides, the discussions were considered to violate the procedure.

Feri Amsari as the director of Constitutional Studies Center at Andalas University, meanwhile, said that President Jokowi could release perppu because of the emergency situation that coerced the law issuance, which was a string of students’ demonstrations and public unrest among the society.

AHMAD FAIZ