KPK's Luxury Working Meeting At 5-Star Hotel In Yogyakarta Is Being Criticized And Considered Not Having A Sense Of Crisis

JAKARTA - The work meeting held by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to harmonize and perfect the organizational structure after the KPK Law Number 19 of 2019 comes into effect continues to be highlighted by a number of parties. The KPK leadership is considered to have no sense of crisis or sensitivity because it held this activity at the Sheraton Mustika Hotel Yogyakarta, which is a five-star hotel.

Former Deputy Chairperson of the KPK, Saut Situmorang, questioned the reason why Firli Bahuri et al held meetings in Yogyakarta and in five-star hotels. According to him, officials at the KPK are currently insensitive to the conditions of the people who are having difficulties in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also questioned why the internal meeting was not held at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta. After all, if you need a large place that can accommodate many people, the building has a hall.

"In the KPK Building, is there really no room for a working meeting? If you want to grow up in the hall, there is also. So there is no sense of crisis. If the approach is tourism, it might be because of the economy. But this is the KPK. The KPK is a risky approach, all materials are discussed there are prosecutions, campaigns, and so on," Saut told reporters.

He then recalled the moment he served as one of the KPK leaders in the past period. According to Saut, in the past, the KPK had never held work meetings in five-star hotels because they did not like a luxury.

"In our previous period, Pak Agus (Agus Rahardjo, 2015-2019 KPK Chairman) didn't like hotels like that at all," he said.

In addition, Saut assessed that the budget used for the work meeting should be allocated for other needs. One of them is looking for their fugitives, including former PDIP Party candidate Harun Masiku, whose jungle is still unknown.

Even if the anti-corruption commission officials wanted a meeting outside the office, Saut said, an ordinary hotel would suffice and there was no need to rent a five-star hotel with classy facilities.

"That money (preferably, ed) is used to immediately find Harun Masiku. It can be more useful than renting a room like that, just talking about the concept this year we want to investigate what, next year we want to make an investigation," said Saut.

"We also ask what we want to discuss there. If we want to discuss the details, it's on the 15th floor in the leadership meeting room. Just call the deputy, we fix the stalled case, we recruit again, and so on," he added.

Criticism of this activity was also conveyed by a former KPK employee who was kicked out due to failing to become a state civil servant (ASN) through the National Insight Test (TWK) Assessment, Rasamala Aritonang.

According to him, these activities are not only unreasonable but also attack morality because the KPK actually holds meetings at five-star hotels in the midst of their declining performance. Not only that, but he also assessed that this kind of activity was not in accordance with the current conditions of the community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In the midst of the difficult economic situation of people's lives & declining GPA, he said @KPK_RI had a meeting at 5-star hotel Jogjakarta. It was Fun Game & Team Work, entertainment until everybody relaxed. , but also attack our morality and conscience!" this was written by Rasamala through his Twitter account @RasamalaArt which was quoted on Thursday, October 28.

"Then how can the public believe in the story of national insight, Pancasila, the 45 Constitution, integrity, efficiency that was said by the leader of @KPK_RI @Nurul_Ghufron?" he added.

With this condition, he then asked the Ministry of Finance to evaluate the activities of the meeting. Even if it is necessary, a warning can also be given to the Chairman of the KPK, Firli Bahuri et al, who are considered to have wasted state money.

"It is better if the President through @KemenkeuRI evaluates, reprimands, and takes action against @KPK_RI," he said.

For information, the Organization and Governance Work Meeting (Ortaka) has been held since Thursday, October 27. 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, at night, it was continued with an indoor team building event, namely fun games and teamwork, 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.

Regarding this criticism, Deputy Chairperson of the KPK, Nurul Ghufron, said that his party held a meeting outside Jakarta to distribute the state budget (APBN) to the regions. "If we only spend it in Jakarta, the regions will not be able to absorb or use it, so we carry it out in Yogyakarta," he said.

He also mentioned that a meeting outside the city like this is not the first time it has been held. In 2020, the meeting was held in Bandung, West Java.

"Next year may be in a different place. All of that is to distribute so that state funds or finances can be absorbed in the regions," he said as quoted by Antara.

In fact, he also mentioned that the work meeting was also attended by employees, including those who are now no longer working at the KPK. "For example, Mr. Giri (Giri Suprapdiono) used to be the Director of Dikmas (Education and Community Service) they also participated, Mr. Koko (Sujanarko) also participated, Mr. Febri as the Head of Public Relations of the KPK also participated. So (followed by) all structures. Not only today before "Previously, when they were still part of the KPK, they also participated," he explained.

"So if you are criticized now, you can conclude for yourself," he concluded.