MAKI Asks For The KPK Law To Be Returned To The Old, Ombudsman Plus Its Authority Instead Of Being Merged

DOC VOI

JAKARTA - Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman assessed that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should be strengthened by returning the old law. This step is considered better than joining the Ombudsman.

"So if I even ask for the KPK to return its authority, such as the old law, not as revised in 2019. Instead, it must be returned with the old KPK Law and added authority," Boyamin told reporters quoted on Saturday, April 6.

Likewise with the Indonesian Ombudsman, the authority should be added so that it does not only function to provide supervision. For example, if the findings are not followed up, the punishment process can be carried out," said Boyamin.

"So far, the Indonesian Ombudsman has only recommended and it can be ignored even though there are provisions if they refuse, there are still subsequent consequences, namely administrative sanctions," he continued.

Boyamin said that with the strengthening of the two institutions, the KPK and the Indonesian Ombudsman could do synergies. "So basically I don't agree when combined. In fact, it should be empowered both of them," he said.

As previously reported, the issue of the merger of the KPK and the Ombudsman arose when the KPK held a public discussion entitled Corruption Eradication: Reflection and Hope'. Deputy Chairman of the KPK Alexander Marwata said the outbreak of the Indonesian anti-corruption commission and the Ombudsman was very likely to happen when referring to events in South Korea.

This statement was made by Alexander in response to a statement by netizens who commented on the KPK RI YouTube account. "(Is there really a plan for the KPK to be merged with the Indonesian Ombudsman, ed) so far the leadership has not received that information. But is there a possibility? Yes. We learned from South Korea," Alexander said in a discussion at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, April 2.

This statement was then responded to by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Kurnia Ramadhana. He said he had also heard the issue but did not heed it because it was unclear.

"So at first many said, 'ICW friends have heard not that there is a plan for the KPK to take action to be removed as a precaution'. At first we didn't heed it but gradually the information became more detailed," said Kurnia when she got the opportunity to speak.

This anti-corruption activist then said that one of the information received by his party was that there was a meeting to discuss the merger. "This has been discussed at Bappenas, the plan is to make the KPK, a corruption prevention agency, merge into the Ombudsman," he said.