The Reason Why The KPK Did Not Participate In The Paraf Draft Bill On Asset Confiscation

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said its institution is an independent executive.

That is the reason the KPK did not participate in providing the initials of the Draft Law (RUU) on Asset Confiscation which will be submitted to the DPR.

"KPK is an independent executive institution. Not directly under the executive," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri to reporters, Saturday, April 14.

Although it does not include initials, the KPK wants the draft law to be ratified immediately. The reason is that the Asset Confiscation Bill is considered to have a deterrent effect not only against perpetrators of corruption but other crimes.

"We really hope that the Asset Confiscation Bill will soon be ratified because it strongly supports law enforcement, including the enforcement of corruption," he said.

As previously reported, President Jokowi on several occasions asked his staff to speed up the completion of the script for the Asset Confiscation Bill. He said the draft law had not been completed for a long time since it was proposed 10 years ago.

"I have also conveyed to the DPR, the relevant ministries will immediately complete it. When it is finished, my part is to issue a presidential decree (presidential letter, ed.) as soon as possible, we have pushed it for a long time, how come it hasn't been completed?" said President Jokowi on the sidelines of his activities in Depok, West Java, last Thursday.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that the text of the Asset Confiscation Bill would be sent to the Indonesian House of Representatives immediately after the president's order. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham), the Attorney General's Office, the National Police, and PPATK have bruises on the legislation.

"Earlier, the meeting tidied up technical and editorial issues, which would not affect the substantive material that was already underdeveloped by the official," Mahfud MD was quoted as saying by ANTARA, Friday, April 14.

He added that in the next 3 days he and representatives from ministries and institutions will also re-check the contents of the script, especially related to writing and other editorial matters.

"So that when the President (Joko Widodo) returns from abroad, we can immediately submit. So, there are no problems within the government. Hopefully this will run smoothly," said the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs after chairing a meeting to discuss the technical affairs of the Asset Confiscation Bill.