Answering Megawati's Concern About Corruption Eradication, KPK: Can't Just Rely On Us

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that efforts to eradicate corruption were not only carried out by its institution. All parties without exception should play a role.

This was conveyed in response to the statement of the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri who highlighted the work of the KPK. In an event, the General Chairperson of the PDI-P (PDIP) admitted that he had asked President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to dissolve the KPK because it was considered ineffective.

"Once again, of course I don't think I can just rely on the KPK. It is highly unlikely that efforts to eradicate corruption will only be left to the KPK," said KPK Deputy Chair Alexander Marwata to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday, August 23.

Alexander said he was also concerned about the eradication of corruption that had not been maximized. Thus, he hopes that all parties, including other law enforcement officers such as the Attorney General's Office and the National Police, will take part.

"Don't just expect the KPK," he said.

"Of course the KPK is the leading sector in eradicating corruption and we constantly invite other law enforcement officers, the police prosecutor together," he continued.

As previously reported, Megawati said that she had asked President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to dissolve the KPK. The reason is that she is concerned that corrupt practices are still happening even though the institution exists. "I have said to Mr. Jokowi sometimes, 'That's it, disband the KPK, sir. I don't think it's effective'," he said at The Tribata, Jakarta. The chairman of PDIP admitted that it doesn't matter if anyone thinks his statement is outspoken. Because, the KPK is a formative institution in the era of his government. "This mother said ces pleng, you know I made it (KPK) really," Megawati said at the event.

This statement then became polemic. PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto even said that Megawati did not mean anything but to make the eradication of corruption run optimally.

Hasto confirmed that he had clarified directly to Megawati. "It's not true at all, because he founded the KPK in the spirit to fulfill the mandate of reform," he said in a written statement.

In fact, Megawati said that Hasto wanted the KPK to be permanent. This is because this institution was previously only an ad hoc or could be dissolved at any time.