TEMPO.CO, Kupang - A law expert from the University of Nusa Cendana said there was bad intention through a draft law to weaken the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Dr. Johanes Tuba Helan said the draft law proposed by a number of lawmakers from major factions at the Parliament call for the revision of the KPK Law No 30 of 2002 indicating bad intention to weaken KPK.
The draft law calls for limiting the authority of KPK to investigating corruption cases involving more than Rp50 billion of state fund.
Under the draft law, KPK may tap conversation of suspicious individuals only when there is already strong evidence to back up the suspicion and tapping could be made with the approval of a chairman of district court, and that KPK may not have the authority to carry out investigation and prosecution at the same time.
The draft law also said that KPK is to be disbanded 12 years after the draft law is passed into law.
Noteworthy, the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), is the most vocal in calling for stripping the KPK of its authority, in contrary to the position of President Joko Widodo who has pledged to strengthen KPK and the majority of public opinions which want to maintain the anti graft agency.
"It is an order from the party that all PDIP legislators have to be united in voting for the draft law," a PDIP faction leader said.
Meanwhile, Law and Human Right Minister Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly said the call for the revision of the KPK Law is only a discourse.
"It is only a discourse . It is not good to comment on it yet," the minister said.
Yasonna said the government would give time for the lawmakers to hear the public aspirations before giving official response.
"We would not react to something non existent," he said.
The call for the revision had been signed by only 35 lawmakers from 6 major factions including PDIP, Golkar, PKB, Nasdem, PP and Hanura.
The Islamic Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), of which one of former presidents has been arrested by KPK and finally jailed for graft, has said it would not take part in any move to weaken KPK.
ANTARA
