Novel Baswedan Criticized The KPK Working Meeting At A Five-Star Hotel In Yogyakarta

JAKARTA - The Organization and Governance Work Meeting (Ortaka) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been criticized for being held at the Sheraton Mustika Hotel Yogyakarta, which is a five-star hotel. The critic of this activity, the former anti-corruption commission investigator, Novel Baswedan, also touched on the ethics of this meeting.

Through his Twitter account @nazaqistha, Novel Baswedan criticized the agenda of the working meeting which was held from last Wednesday, October 27 to October 29 at the Sheraton Mustika Hotel and a number of other places in Yogyakarta.

He even said that from the information he got, there were a number of activities that the KPK leadership and high-ranking officials in the institution would carry out. Including leisurely cycling from one point to another.

"KPK Leader + main officials tomorrow & the day after tomorrow, work meeting at the Seraton Hotel Yogya. Followed by Friday morning a relaxing bicycle event starting from the Semplak Police Headquarters - Kali Urang Yogya Coffee shop," Novel said as quoted from his Twitter.

He then questioned the importance of the meeting being held at the five-star hotel. Moreover, this meeting was held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Isn't it ethical? In the midst of a pandemic & difficulty holding an event like this," he asked.

In the participant guide which is widely circulated, the activity has been carried out since 27 October. On that day there were a number of events including listening to the presentation of material entitled Strategic Learning: Organizational Transformation towards a Purpose-Driven Organization delivered by Ignasius Jonan.

Next, in the evening, it was continued with an indoor team building event, namely fun games and team work, which was attended by 55 participants who were divided into five groups.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, October 28, the event continued with the presentation of the KPK performance review meeting. Meanwhile, on Friday, October 29, the participants will head to the Ngemplak Jogja Police Headquarters to take a leisurely bicycle to the Klothok Coffee Shop in the Kaliurang area.

After the relaxing bike is done, the participants will return to the hotel to listen to the directions and the raker's decision points.

The criticism submitted by this novel was then responded to by the KPK. Secretary General of the KPK Cahya H Harefa said that the meeting in Yogyakarta had actually been on the agenda for a long time but was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only that, careful planning including budget calculations have also been carried out.

"This intensive meeting which was held in Yogyakarta had been scheduled in advance, both from the aspect of budget planning and implementation design, but it had to be postponed due to pandemic conditions and can only be carried out at this time," he said.

He also emphasized that this work meeting needs to be carried out as part of efforts to harmonize regulations and improve organizational structures, in order to support the duties and functions of the anti-corruption commission in accordance with KPK Law Number 19 of 2019.

Moreover, recently the anti-corruption commission has just completed the stage of transitioning the status of an employee to a state civil apparatus (ASN). "We need to harmonize regulations and improve the organizational structure to support the implementation of the duties and functions of the KPK in accordance with the law," said Cahya.

For these various reasons, the KPK then held an intensive meeting in Yogyakarta involving structural leaders and officials as a step in finalizing the formulation of adjustments to the rules and organizational structure.

After the adjustments were made, Cahya said that the task of eradicating corruption through prevention, prosecution, and education carried out by the KPK could be carried out effectively and efficiently in accordance with strong regulations.

"The involvement of leaders and structural officials is also important to harmonize all KPK work programs, build cooperation between teams and work units, which in turn can strengthen institutional performance," he concluded.