Mahfud MD's Response, KPK Affirms Independence Cannot Be Measured From Attending Or Not At Cabinet Meetings

KPK/DOK ANTARA/Fianda Sjofjan Rassat

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) assesses that the vice presidential candidate number three, Mahfud MD, is wrong if he thinks that the institution's independence will appear again if its leadership is not allowed to attend a meeting at the State Palace.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the KPK, Nawawi Pomolango, said that he needed more than that to restore his institution's condition as before. Including, improving the system from within so as not to comply with certain party interventions.

"Independent is not only a matter of attending or not attending cabinet meetings but of the KPK's determination not to want to intervene," said KPK Temporary Chair Nawawi Pomolango to reporters in a written statement quoted on Friday, February 9.

Even so, Nawawi appreciated the steps mentioned by Mahfud as an effort to restore the anti-corruption commission's glory. However, the most important thing is that officials do not want to intervene.

"On the other hand (need, red) awareness and appreciation for any party not to try to intervene," he said.

"But whatever it is, any goodwill that is intended as an effort to strengthen the KPK institution certainly needs to be appreciated," continued Nawawi.

As previously reported, Mahfud MD said that the revision of the KPK Law would be carried out if he was elected with Ganjar Pranowo as president and vice president. In addition, he will prohibit KPK leaders from coming to cabinet meetings to maintain independence.

"If, for example, God, for the support of the people, brothers, Mr. Ganjar and I are given the trust to become president and vice president, we will revise the KPK Law," said Mahfud at the Tabrak Prof event at Post Bloc, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, February 7.

"Again, the initial one, that it is an independent institution, should not be interfered with by the government and the chairman of the KPK should not attend the meeting at the cabinet meeting because it is an outside person, so that he is independent," continued the former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.