Mahfud MD: KPK In Firli Bahuri's Era Had More Achievements Than Agus Rahardjo's Era

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD claimed that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) during the leadership of Firli Bahuri had more achievements than during the leadership of Agus Rahardjo.

This was conveyed by Mahfud to ward off the opinion that the KPK had now been weakened by the government. According to him, the KPK is an independent institution. Thus, weakening by the government is impossible.

"The KPK is considered weak and then the government is being accused again. In fact, we have already said that the KPK is independent. Even if we are objective, the first year the KPK is now compared to the first year the KPK, which previously had far more objectives, now its achievements are," Mahfud said as quoted from the webinar event. aired on Kahmi's YouTube account, Monday, December 28.

Mahfud MD said that in the first year of Agus Rahardjo's leadership in 2016, the KPK also did nothing compared to Firli's current leadership.

"We remember that Agus Rahardjo became the first KPK chairman with Saut and so on. In the first year he could not do anything. It's now a year that he has dared to arrest the DPR, DPRD, regents, mayors as well as being arrested more at this time actually," he said.

Even though he said Firli's first term was better, he could not do anything when the public judged that the KPK was currently weaker. This is because the KPK is an independent institution even though it is included in the executive clump.

"But, put it thought that it is bad, you say that it is the KPK itself. We have already said that the KPK is an institution within the executive group but not part of the executive branch. Like the KPU, Komnas HAM is an executive group but not a subordinate part, let alone an executive subordinate," he said. .

It is known, a number of parties considered the KPK to have decreased its performance, especially in the field of prosecution. During Firli's first term in office, the anti-gas commission only conducted hand-catching operations (OTT) seven times with 37 times.

This figure is calculated to be less than the silent operation carried out in the first year of the 2016-2019 period of KPK Chairman Agus Rahardjo. At that time, during his tenure during his tenure, the anti-graft commission succeeded in conducting OTT 17 times and named 58 suspects from various elements such as DPD Chairman Irman Gusman to DKI Jakarta DPRD member Mohammad Sanusi.

The decline in the number of silent operations was also mentioned by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) in the agenda of 'One Year Evaluation of the KPK, Quasi-Strengthening of Corruption Eradication'.

"During the period of one year of Firli Bahuri's leadership, the KPK has had many problems in the aspect of prosecution," said ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana as quoted from the webinar posted on ICW Facebook.

One aspect of the enforcement that he highlighted was the drastic drop in the OTT number from previous years. Even though he succeeded in arresting two ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet for the 2019-2024 period, however, the OTT that was carried out in the Firli Bahuri era was only seven times.

Meanwhile, when compared to 2019, the KPK succeeded in conducting 21 OTTs, 2018 there were 30 OTTs carried out, 2017 there were 19 OTTs, and 2016 there were 17 OTTs.

"Even that one hand arrest is still a problem because the perpetrator cannot be caught by the KPK," he said referring to a KPK fugitive, Harun Masiku.

Kurnia assessed that the decline in the OTT was due to the fact that the majority of KPK leaders in this period often criticized this pattern of prosecution, including Firli Bahuri. It is known, during the fit and proper test of the candidate for leadership of this period at the Indonesian Parliament, Firli admitted that he was sad if the OTT continued and considered that there was something wrong with the holding of this operation.

"We know, sir, that many people have been arrested because of OTT. Sorry, because there are so many OTTs. I am sad, sir, seeing it. That means we have something to do," said Firli at the time.

Not only Firli, Nurul Ghufron, who is now the deputy chairman of the KPK, also called this silent operation a mere entertainment and preferred to take precautions.

"As long as we are able to prevent it, we will prevent it. But if we don't want to, we will arrest it. So don't wait for the OTT KPK or send it to a corrupt prison. So OTT is just entertainment. As long as preventive measures are carried out but still stubborn, we will arrest them, "he said.

So that in view of this, Kurnia assessed that it would be natural that later the number of silent operations conducted by the KPK would decrease.

"Because of what, if we look again at the working process of the KPK under the leadership of the current five commissioners, then we can find statements from the KPK leadership who have always criticized the arrest of this hand due to Firli Bahuri's statement when carrying out a fit and proper test. in the DPR, "he said.