The Story Of Opung Tumpak Who Became The KPK Supervisory Board

Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean (Wardany Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean admitted that he was moved to be part of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). This was conveyed when he delivered his remarks as Chairman of the KPK Supervisory Board for the 2019-2024 period.

His voice trembled a little as he greeted his colleagues who were present at the handover ceremony for the head of the anti-graft institution. It is known, Tumpak once sat as deputy chairman and Acting Head of KPK volume I replacing Antasari Azhar.

He did not know why Jokowi had invited himself to return to the KPK with a new position. Tumpak said that now he has returned as the KPK Supervisory Board.

"Opung is back here, which I left behind for a long time, come back for a while, now back again, although with a slightly different position," said Tumpak in a speech at the KPK's Red and White House, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, December 20.

He admitted that the KPK Law which is now regulated in Law 19 of 2019 invited a polemic. Including the matter of the supervisory board. Tumpak realizes that the existence of this council has been offended by the public and many disagree.

Even so, Tumpak emphasized that the supervisory board together with the new leadership remains committed to eradicating racial acts.

"I know this is a very complicated problem, which touches the conscience of all KPK employees including me. But the law has been passed, it has been published in the state gazette. Let's do it together well," he said.

Jokowi's reason for choosing Tumpak as Chairman of the KPK Supervisory Board

Jokowi has actually explained the reasons for choosing Tumpak as Chairman of the KPK Supervisory Board. After the inauguration at the State Palace, Central Jakarta, Jokowi said that the former commissioner Tumpak was chosen because he had experience leading the institution.

"He has an experience background related to the KPK, I think. I think he is a wise person," said Jokowi on Friday afternoon, December 20.

Apart from being wise, the former governor of DKI Jakarta also believes that Tumpak has the capability and integrity. He hopes that in the future this supervisory board can work well with the five other KPK leaders.

"I think this will work well together. That's our calculation," he said

Previously, President Jokowi inaugurated five new KPK leaders for the 2019-2024 period at the State Palace, Jakarta. They are KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri and four KPK Deputy Chairmen Alexander Marwata, Nurul Ghufron, Nawawi Pomolango and Lili Pintauli Siregar.

In addition, Jokowi also appointed the KPK Supervisory Board. They are former KPK leader Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean, former MK Harjono judge, former Supreme Court judge Artidjo Alkostar, Deputy Chairman of the Kupang High Court Albertina Ho, and LIPI researcher Syamsuddin Haris.