Regarding Political Revenge And KPK's Actions Against Syahrul Yasin Limpo

Former Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo was presented at a press conference for his detention at the KPK's Red and White Building, Jakarta, Friday (13/10/2023). (Between/Indrianto Eko Suwarso/foc/aa)

JAKARTA - The corruption case that dragged former Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) is said to be thick with political nuances. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri is suspected of being involved in the extortion case against SYL.

SYL, who is a politician from the National Democratic Party (NasDem), disappeared while traveling to Europe, after it was reported that he was a suspect in a corruption case of buying and selling positions within the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan).

However, SYL finally arrived in Indonesia on October 4, 2023 evening. He finally officially became a KPK detainee as of October 12.

However, the case that dragged SYL was later believed not to be purely a matter of law. According to political observer Pangi Syarwi Chaniago, the case involving NasDem politicians is very thick with political nuances.

"Almost all ministers must have a gap, this is only a matter of time. And now it is a political year. Then why are only politicians being beaten? This is called legal politicization," Pangi said when contacted by VOI.

A similar opinion was also expressed by the Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review (IPR) Ujang Komarudin. He believes that ministers from the NasDem Party have been targeted to be involved in legal cases since Surya Paloh officially supported Anies Baswedan in the 2024 presidential election.

"Yes, it's just whether it's safe or not depending on the lines. Is this political? Yes, of course (involvement in) corruption cannot be separated from political problems," said Ujang.

However, Pangi believes that the corruption case that ensnared SYL will not affect the electability of the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar pair.

Together with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), the NasDem Party is included in the Change Coalition that carried the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar pair in the 2024 presidential election.

When party cadres are involved in corruption cases, it will certainly affect the electability of the presidential candidate, but according to Pangi the effect is not large.

"Actually, the Indonesian people want a clean leader, who is close to the people, to pay attention to the people. When the trend of leaders is clean, it will be very influential," said Pangi, who is also the Executive Director of the Voxpol Center Research and Consulting.

Indeed there is an influence when party cadres are involved in corruption, but that is very small. The biggest one is still the figure of the presidential candidate. As long as the presidential candidate is considered clean, the influence is only small and almost non-existent. So there is no correlation as long as the presidential candidate figure is clean," added Pangi.

What makes the SYL corruption case even more complicated is the alleged extortion by KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri. This allegation was strengthened by the circulation of Firli's photo with SYL at a Badminton Sports Hall.

Firli's meeting with SYL took place on March 2, 2022, while the KPK began its investigation at the Ministry of Agriculture on January 16, 2023. Firli emphasized that during the meeting, SYL did not have a corruption case.

Firli strengthened his argument by mentioning the Nota of the Deputy for Enforcement of the KPK Sprin.Lidik-05/Lidik.01.00/01/01/2023, dated January 16, 2023. Meanwhile, the investigation stage of SYL began on September 26, 2023 on the basis of Sprin.Dik/122/DIK.00/01/09/2023.

Firli is scheduled to face the Polda Metro Jaya investigators as a witness to the alleged extortion of SYL on Friday (20/10/2023). However, he did not attend on the grounds that he had another agenda.

Researcher from the Center for Anti-Corruption Studies (SAKSI) of the Faculty of Law (FH) Mulawarman University (Unmul) Herdiansyah Hamzah suspects Firli panicked because he was called Polda Metro Jaya.

"Even if you feel you have done nothing wrong, why worry. This is a sign that Firli is in a panic," said Herdiansyah.

He also regretted the KPK's statement that Firli needed time to study the examination material.

On the other hand, Pangi said the investigation carried out by Polda Metro Jaya against Firli was a positive thing. Because according to Pangi, there is actually no dominant institution in Indonesia. Examination of Firli can be a place for mutual correction between institutions.

The current KPK seems to have faced resistance from the Regional Police. But actually it's good to correct each other, control each other, so that no institution feels really dominant," Pangi explained.

"The KPK in the past was like God, as if no one could correct it. Now it's actually good because no one is dominant," he concluded.