Mahfud MD Asked To Read Data Before Comparing The KPK Era Firli And Agus Rahardjo

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD, was asked to read the data first before saying that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) under Firli Bahuri's leadership was better than in the Agus Rahardjo era.

This was conveyed by ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana in response to Mahfud's statement saying that the KPK in the Firli leadership era had more achievements than when it was led by Agus Rahardjo in the 2016-2019 period.

"As Menkopolhukam, it would be better if Pak Mahfud MD spoke using data so it was not just an assumption," said Kurnia, as quoted from a written statement received by VOI, Tuesday, December 29.

According to him, if many public officials now speak without being based on data, it is not impossible that the public will be increasingly skeptical. He also assessed that this kind of view should not be issued just because he wanted to defend the government which was the initiator of the revision of the KPK Law and defended the five current leaders.

Moreover, based on the evaluation records of the last year the KPK made by ICW and Transparency International (TII), it seems that there is a drastic decline in the current performance of the anti-graft commission, especially in the field of prosecution. According to Kurnia, based on existing data from the annual evaluation records, in 2019, the number of investigations reached 145 cases but currently - in the Firli Bahuri period - only 91 cases.

The decline also occurred in case prosecutions. If in 2019 there were 153 cases that went to prosecution, this year it only reached 75 cases.

"Then in the context of the number of arrests, in 2020 the KPK only conducted seven arrests. In contrast to the previous years, 2019 21 times, 2018 30 times, 2017 19 times, and 2016 17 times," he said.

Not only that, the KPK is also experiencing a decline in the level of public trust and this is based on the results of the survey issued by the Alvara Research Center, Indo Barometer, Charta Politica, LSI, and Kompas Research and Development Center. This results in a decrease in the level of trust due to the role of the government when enacting the new KPK Law and electing most of the problem leaders.

Not to mention, the KPK is also considered to have failed to arrest their fugitives such as former PDIP legislative candidate Harun Masiku who became a bribe for former KPU Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan. In addition, Kurnia also mentioned several things that were considered setbacks, such as the attitude of KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri who violated the code of ethics by using helicopters for his personal gain.

So, reflecting on this, Kurnia then asked Mahfud to be even more objective in giving an assessment. In addition, he also emphasized that the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) should give data-based statements.

"ICW suggested that Pak Mahfud MD read the data first so that the opinions presented were more objective and factual," he concluded.