Jokowi Urged To Raise Voice On Decision To Dismiss 51 KPK Employees

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - A total of 51 out of 75 employees of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) who did not pass the National Insight Test Assessment (TWK) will be fired. In response, a number of parties asked President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to vote because the dismissal was not in accordance with his orders some time ago.

After holding a meeting with a number of related parties, Tuesday, May 25, KPK and BKN announced the fate of 75 employees who did not pass TWK as a condition of transfer of status. As a result, only 24 employees could be rescued while another 51 would be fired for being given a red score by assessors.

Polemics also emerged from the results of the meeting. One of them came from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) who urged Jokowi to reprimand the KPK leadership and the Head of BKN.

"ICW urges that President Joko Widodo call, ask for clarification, and reprimand the Head of BKN and all KPK Leaders for the policies that have been issued regarding the dismissal of 51 KPK employees," ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana said in a written statement, Wednesday, May 26.

Not until there, this anti-corruption activist also asked dozens of these employees to remain appointed as state civil servants (ASN). This means that ICW asked President Jokowi to reverse the decision taken by the KPK leadership and the Head of BKN.

Kurnia said that ICW's request is based on several things. Including, the alleged test has violated the law and even deliberately smuggled.

"TWK was systematically smuggled by the Kpk Leadership through The Corruption Eradication Commission Regulation No. 1 of 2021 (Perkom 1/2021). In fact, Law No. 19 of 2019 and Government Regulation No. 41 of 2020 do not mandate selection methods for the transfer of KPK staffing status," he explained.

In addition, Jokowi was asked to vote because this dismissal had been against the previous order. Where the former Governor of DKI Jakarta has requested that the results of TWK are not a reason to dismiss dozens of KPK employees but this is even considered like the last wind.

In fact, based on Article 25 paragraph (1) of Law No. 5 of 2014 mentioned that the President as the holder of government power is the highest holder of power in policy, professional coaching, and ASN management. In addition, due to changes in the KPK Law, especially Article 3, the anti-corruption institution is a state institution in the family of executive power.

"So, basically, there is no reason for the two agencies to issue an administrative policy that is contrary to the president's statement," Kurnia said.

He also alluded to the dismissal of dozens of employees based on the results of TWK also seemed to rush without a thorough evaluation mechanism. In fact, since the beginning of this test has caused polemic because of suspected violations in it.

In fact, to confirm the violation dozens of employees have complained to a number of state agencies such as Ombudsman RI and the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

Lastly, ICW also considers there are a number of groups that conspire with the KPK Leadership to lay off the work of dozens of these employees. "These indications strengthened as buzzers filled social media and were followed by hacking attempts against parties criticizing TWK," he said.

"However, the issues brought by the buzzers seem outdated and can never show concrete evidence, such as allegations of Taliban and radicalism in the KPK," he added.

So, in addition to asking President Jokowi to speak up, ICW also asked the KPK Supervisory Board to act. The trick is to investigate alleged violations of the code of conduct that has been committed by the KPK leadership.

"The Board of Trustees immediately investigated allegations of violations of the code of conduct of all KPK Leaders related to the dismissal of employees in the National Insight Test," Kurnia said.

TWK shouldn't have to be polemic

The many highlights and urgings from the public, including ICW, about TWK that led to the dismissal of 51 KPK employees were then responded by the Chief of Presidential Staff Moeldoko. He asked that this issue not be a polemic because it's commonplace.

The cause, such tests TWK not only held in KPK but also in various other agencies. Moeldoko said that this test is a form of national strengthening for government employees.

"Not only the KPK domain but all those who processed the status of ASN in all institutions. Actually, it has been applied in all institutions and also among state-owned enterprises," he said.

So do employees who don't get away with it. He said, this also often happens when TWK is done in other agencies, one of them in the Pancasila Ideology Development Board (BPIP).

"The problem of not passing the TWK test is actually not only in KPK but also in other institutions have happened as such conditions. Even in BPIP, there is also yes. As soon as the TWK test, they didn't pass. Why isn't it noisy? Why is the KPK so mentioned?" said the former TNI Commander.

So, he said it is necessary to think about a number of scenarios for improvements to the employees whose national insight is still lacking. Including through education.

Not only that, but Moeldoko also suggested that in the future the test mechanism should be better prepared. Even if necessary, it can involve organizations such as NU and Muhammadiyah.

"KSP, in this case, recommends to also involve NU and Muhammadiyah that have been tested to knit the symbol of nationality and diversity of Indonesia," he concluded.