Goodbye From The KPK, Novel Baswedan Et Al Released In Tears By Active Employees: See You Soon, See You Later

JAKARTA - A total of 57 employees of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was dismissed today, Thursday, September 30. They left the KPK Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta at around 13.30 WIB.

As VOI observed, they all took pictures in front of the KPK symbol at the KPK Red and White Building before walking to the KPK Supervisory Board Office on Rasuna Said Street, South Jakarta. It can be seen that the inactive KPK investigator Novel Baswedan and the Chairman of the KPK Employee Forum (WP), Yudi Purnomo Harahap.

After taking pictures, they came out of the building and were followed by other employees who were still working at the KPK. Several employees, mostly women, seemed to be in tears.

"See you guys. See you later", said an employee, wiping her tears.

Seeing this reaction, dozens of dismissed employees waved goodbye and continued their journey.

On the sidelines of the trip, Yudi Purnomo, who is one of 57 employees, said he couldn't believe this was his last day working at the KPK. "Finally this day has come. Anyway, keep the spirit", he told VOI.

Meanwhile, Novel Baswedan continued to walk accompanied by his wife while carrying rose stems which were distributed to dozens of employees by the Anti-Corruption Civil Society Coalition.

The police who secured the KPK's Red and White House could do nothing but pave the way. None of the employees were blocked by the Bhayangkara Corps during the leisurely walk.

After arriving at the KPK Council Office, speeches were made by several parties. Including former KPK leaders, Saut Situmorang and Bambang Widjojanto

Currently, the speech activity is still ongoing. There is no sadness on the faces of dozens of employees, most of whom have served in the KPK for many years.

It was previously reported that 58 employees were declared unable to work at the KPK because they could not become ASN (State Civil Servant) according to the mandate of the KPK Law Number 19 of 2019 as of the end of September. The employees include senior KPK investigators Novel Baswedan and Ambarita Damanik, Chairman of the KPK Employee Forum Yudi Purnomo, KPK investigator Harun Al-Rasyid, and dozens of other names.

The anti-corruption commission argued that their inability to become ASN was not due to laws and regulations such as KPK Commission Regulation Number 1 of 2021 but because of the results of their TWK assessment. Not only that, but the KPK also ensures that employees have been given the same opportunities even if they have passed the age limit or have stopped being ASN.

However, the decision caused a polemic considering the discovery of several maladministrations and abuse of authority in the TWK (National Insight Test) process by the Indonesian Ombudsman. Not only that, but National Human Rights Commission also found violations of 11 employees' rights.

Thus, this is a polemic because the KPK and the State Civil Service Agency (BKN) do not want to follow up on corrective actions or recommendations issued by the Indonesian Ombudsman and National Human Rights Commission, respectively.

In addition, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is also silent on the recommendations that have been given by the two institutions and have argued that he does not want to be withdrawn in institutional matters.