TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo seems powerless when he faces forces that aim to destroy the anti-graft body the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
His noncommittal response after the police arrested KPK Commissioner Bambang Widjojanto was such a huge letdown.
Jokowi should have understood that the arrest was none other than a retaliatory strike.
Previously, KPK named Comr. General Budi Gunawan as the suspect of bribery case, forcing the delay of his appointment as Chief of the National Police.
Such a strong reaction has ever happened before. Every time the KPK was about to investigate members of the police, it will always end up in dispute.
In 2010, two KPK members, Bibit Samad Riyanto and Chandra M. Hamzah, were criminalized with a bribery case of the Integrated Radio Communication System at the Department of Forestry.
After receiving public outcry, the Attorney General Office, who handled the case given by the police, decided to halt the case.
But the repercussion was obvious: KPK became less powerful and weak.
Now the police arrogantly arrested Bambang and named his as suspect.
The case also seems to be exaggerated and fabricated: Bambang was arrested for allegedly asking several witnesses to perjure themselves at the Constitutional Court in 2010. At that time, he was the lawyer of one of the regent candidates.
The police showed off their power: arresting Bambang in the morning after he take his daughter to school, without a summon letter in advance.
Bambang is not a terrorist or a highly dangerous criminal who is likely to escape. He is a state official appointed by the DPR and officially inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Indonesia.
How different it is with KPK’s treatment to Budi Gunawan. Until today, KPK has yet to quesiton Budi. Even the government also let this police official still at his position as Head of the Police Education Institution.
In fact, the case implicating Budi is much more serious: bribe. He is also suspected of having ill-gotten funds.
If the President is not dare enough yet to take actions or continues to be trapped by the interests of political parties supporting him, the police would certainly continue to shackle Bambang.
As a result, he will be non-active KPK commissioner and there will only be three KPK leaders left.
This scenario will only please those who have always wanted to weaken this anti-graft body.
KPK’s decision will be prone to be disputes or rendered invalid as it will be made by three leaders only, not to the mention the shock impacts that will be experienced by investigators as they will not be that bold to disclose bigger graft cases.
It will not be unwise to let two state institutions fight, with the whole Indonesian watching this spectacle.
President Joko Widodo should immediately prevent the demise of KPK by controlling the police.
History would record him as a President who let KPK weak if he did not take a firm action to save this anti-graft body, which is at the forefront of the battle against corruption in this country.
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