Officially No Longer KPK Employees, Novel Baswedan: We Come Out With Our Heads Up To Maintain Integrity

JAKARTA - Former investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Novel Baswedan said he and dozens of his colleagues left the KPK with the impression of good legacy and achievements in prosecution and did not commit any disgraceful acts.

In addition, he and 57 other KPK employees who were eliminated due to the failed National Insight Test Assessment (TWK) came out with their heads held high.

"Yesterday, my friends and I officially resigned with respect from the KPK. Thank God we stopped leaving a good legacy. Great achievements in enforcement, prevention & HR management. We didn't do anything disgraceful / violators of ethics," Novel said as quoted from his Twitter account @nazaqistha, Friday, 1 September.

"We come out with our heads held high because we maintain integrity," he added.

Yesterday my friends and I officially resigned with honor from the KPK. Thank God we stopped leaving a good legacy. Great achievements in enforcement, prevention & HR management. We didn't do anything disgraceful/ethical violators. We came out with our heads held high because we maintain integrity.

— novel baswedan (@nazaqistsha) October 1, 2021

Novel expresses his gratitude to all parties who have given support and attention to the struggle of dozens of anti-corruption commission employees. However, he reminded the struggle to eradicate corruption must continue.

"This is not over yet, the eradication of corruption must continue to be fought for. Corrupt officials cannot be tolerated. #Long live the struggle," he stressed.

It was previously reported that 58 employees were declared unable to work at the KPK because they could not become ASN 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.

In addition, there was also a young investigator, Lakso Anindito, who failed after taking a follow-up test because he had just finished his assignment. The KPK argued that they could not become ASN, not because of laws and regulations such as Perkom KPK Number 1 of 2021, but because of the results of their assessment.

Ahead of the dismissal, the National Police Chief admitted that he wanted to recruit 56 KPK employees who did not pass the TWK to become Polri ASN. This wish was conveyed in a letter to President Jokowi last week and was approved.

There is also the reason Sigit wants to recruit tens of these employees because the Police need human resources to strengthen the line of cracking down on corruption cases. Moreover, the National Police is currently also focusing on handling the COVID-19 recovery.