Responding to Leadership Candidate Saying KPK Leaders Reluctant to Meet with Police Chief-Attorney General, Alexander Marwata: Information from Whom?

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Alexander Marwata was surprised by Setyo Budiyanto's statement that the leadership of the anti-corruption agency had never met with the Chief of Police or the Attorney General. He questioned the information because in fact it was not the case.

This was conveyed by Alexander in response to the statement of the KPK capim during the fit and proper test held by Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday, November 18. At that time, Setyo touched on the issue of sectoral egos that occurred in the leadership of the KPK for the 2019-2024 period.

Setyo even assessed that the current leadership of the anti-corruption commission felt superior to other law enforcers. They were said to not want to meet with the Chief of Police or the Attorney General.

"Who did he (Setyo Budiyanto, ed.) get the information from?" Alexander told reporters as quoted on Thursday, November 21.

Alexander said that he often met with other law enforcer leaders.

"I have been at the KPK for nine years and have often met the Attorney General on various occasions. Likewise with other leaders," he said.

In addition, Alexander also denied that the KPK Leadership for the 2019-2024 period felt superior to others.

"Even at state events, we sit behind the leaders of other law enforcement agencies," he said.

Even so, Alexander acknowledged that there was ineffective coordination and supervision with other law enforcers. Moreover, the KPK no longer has a trigger mechanism role due to changes in the law.

"The new KPK Law mandates that in eradicating corruption, the KPK must cooperate or synergize with other institutions. Thus, the three law enforcement institutions have the same position in eradicating corruption," concluded the former ad hoc judge.