Material Test Still Ongoing; Jokowi to Tap KPK Supervisory Body

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential spokesman Fadjroel Rachman said that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo did not need to wait for the material test of Law No. 19/2019 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) that was being processed at Constitutional Court to appoint candidates of the KPK Supervisory Board.

“There is no problem. What important is, the law has been taken effect on October 17,” said Fadjroel at Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, November 5.

According to Fadjroel, the President respected the ongoing legal process while selecting the candidates. Regardless of the Court’s verdict, he added, the government would make an adjustment. “If there is a change, we could adjust it.”

Previously, Joko Widodo announced he would immediately appoint members of the anti-graft body’s supervisory board. The assignment would not be through the mechanism of the selection committee as stipulated on Article 69(A)1 of Law No. 19/2019. 

However, the President ensured the selected people had great credibility. As of date, the selection was still afoot.

Since the beginning, the existence of the supervisory board drew criticism from many anti-corruption activists as they deemed the body would hinder the KPK’s work.

Meanwhile, the newly-ratified KPK Law was still being challenged by several students at Constitutional Court. On September 18, the students filed the suit before the law was inked by President Jokowi. “We see problems in the formation of new KPK Law,” said the applicants’ attorney Zico Leonard, Friday, September 20.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI