Political Parties Seek Ways to Exercise Inquiry Right against KPK

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Political parties endorsing an inquiry right against the Corruption Eradication Commission are finding ways to push the inquiry rights and a special committee will remain formed after members of the House of Representatives (DPR) return from the recess on May 18, 2017.

DPR deputy speaker, one of the 26 initiators of the inquiry right, said that even if some factions decide not to send their representatives to join the special committee, the inquiry right remains exercisable.

“Because the regulations don’t say it’s an obligation,” Fahri told Tempo on Thursday, May 4, 2017.

The regulation referred to by Fahri is Article 171 paragraph 2 of the House of Representatives Regulation No. 1/2014 and Article 201 paragraph 2 of Law No. 17/2014. The two regulations state that the Special Committee shall consist of all factions.

Fahri said that there is still time to lobby other factions until May 17. After the said date, faction leaders will hold a meeting with the House Steering Committee (Bamus) to schedule a plenary session. He revealed that the plenary session could decide whether the inquiry right is to be exercised or not.

People’s Conscience (Hanura) Party secretary general Sarifuddin Sudding echoed Fahri’s comment. According to Sarifuddin, the inquiry right special committee will be formed even though some factions decide not to send their representatives.

Hanura insists on its stance to follow up the inquiry right, as the party is one of the initiators, along with six other House members who signed the proposal. Hanura chairman Oesman Sapta Odang has left the decision related to the inquiry right to the party’s faction at the House.

To this date, six parties expressed their rejection against the inquiry rights, namely the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party (PPP), and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). Four other parties, namely the Functional Group (Golkar) party, the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Hanura, and the National Democratic (NasDem) Party agreed to exercise the inquiry right.

Gerindra Central Executive Board chairman Sodik Mudjahid said that the article on the party’s representations in the Special Committee has sparked controversies. Therefore, Gerindra Faction leaders are still deliberating it with other factions.

“We also discuss the legitimacy of the plenary session and the decision making in the next plenary session,” Sodik said.

HUSSEIN ABRI | AGUNG SEDAYU