Expert: Village Head Holds More Than 6 Years Of Potential Occurrence Corruption

JAKARTA - Constitutional Law Expert at the Faculty of Law, University of Jember, Dr. Adam Muhshi, assessed that the extension of the term of office of the village head (kades) from six years to nine years was prone to acts of corruption because he had been in power for too long.

"Substantially, constitutional law requires restriction of power to prevent absoluteism or arbitrariness. If it takes longer to serve, the potential for corruption will be more open," he said in Jember Regency, East Java, quoted from Antara, Monday, January 23.

KPK data from 2012 to 2021 recorded 601 cases of corruption in village funds in Indonesia and as many as 686 village heads were caught in the case, including village heads in Jember Regency.

"I do not agree with the demands of the village heads because these demands do not prioritize the aspirations of the people, but the interests of the village heads are only for longer power," he said.

Moreover, these demands were submitted ahead of the 2024 political year so that they were full of political interests in the 2024 election because previously the village heads had discussed three terms of presidential office and threatened political parties that did not support the village heads.

"The government and the DPR's plan to revise Law No. 6 of 2014 concerning Villages will certainly open up opportunities for people who file lawsuits at the Constitutional Court (MK)," he said.

He said the position of village head has been regulated in Article 39 of the Village Law which states that the term of office of the village head is six years from the time of inauguration.

Then the incumbent village head can serve again for a maximum of three consecutive terms of office or not in a row so that the village head can serve a maximum of 18 years.

"If it is extended to 9 years, then the village head can serve no later than 27 years so that the potential for arbitrariness in power and acts of corruption is higher," he said.

He said the limitation of the term of office was a manifestation of the principles of democracy and the spirit that the 1945 Constitution was pursuing to prevent various acts of deviation, such as corruption and the oligarchy of power.

"I hope that the revision of the Village Law will not be included in the 2023 National Legislation Program because it is ahead of the political year which has the potential for transactions ahead of the 2024 General Election," he said.