100 Economists Urge President Jokowi to Replace New KPK Bill

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A group consisting of 100 Indonesian economists on Thursday has sent an open letter addressed to President Jokowi, urging the state leader to issue the much-awaited regulation in lieu of law (Perpu) on the Corruption Eradication Commission Law (KPK Law). 

In the letter, experts in the field of economy gave their opinion on KPK’s weakening toward the national economy. They argue that the KPK Law recently passed by the House of Representatives (DPR) in a hasty manner seems to be worse than the previous law. 

The economists collectively agree that the new Articles in the law have weakened KPK’s ability to be authoritative against acts of corruption and force the corruption watchdog to no longer be independent. 

“The effects of this weakening will possibly increase acts of corruption in Indonesia and reduce KPK’s credibility in conducting preventive programs that in itself will threaten the effectiveness of the graft prevention program,” as stated in the open letter to President Jokowi. 

They also argue that the latent danger of grafts toward the national economy will hamper investments and the ease to do business. Apart from investments, they also argue acts of corruption that are ripe will worsen income disparity and create instability in macro-economy due to the larger external debt compared to global investments. 

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA