Firli Not Attending Open Debate, KPK: Chairman Wants To End Polemic In Public Space

DOK ANTARA/Firli Bahuri

JAKARTA - Acting Spokesperson for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, spoke about the absence of KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri in an open debate on national insight organized by the Anti-Corruption Civil Society Coalition at the KPK's Red and White building.

According to him, Firli's absence was solely to stop the polemic over the status of KPK employees, especially regarding the National Insight Test (TWK) in the community.

"The chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission cannot fulfill the invitation because he wants to end the polemic in the public sphere related to the transfer of the status of KPK employees to ASN," Ali told reporters, Friday, June 4.

He also regretted that the public debate was carried out in the KPK press room without prior permission. Bearing in mind, in the invitation letter that the proposed debate was held in the courtyard of the KPK building which is a public area.

"KPK regrets that the debate was held in the KPK press room without prior notification," he said.

"We hope for public support to create a conducive situation for the smooth running of the KPK's anti-corruption tasks," Ali added.

As previously reported, KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri did not show his nose in an open debate invitation with the Director of Socialization and Anti-Corruption Campaign Giri Suprapdiono.

This open debate is planned to discuss the National Insight Test Assessment (TWK) which resulted in the inactivation of 75 KPK employees who were declared unsuccessful.

Judging from the Jakartanicus YouTube account, this open debate was held at the KPK's Red and White Building and was guided by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Kurnia Ramadhana.

"The Anti-Corruption Civil Society Coalition will hold an open debate with national insight between two people whose names have been mentioned in the past month, namely between Giri and Firli," said Kurnia when opening the debate, Friday, June 4.

Before the debate started, Kurnia said, an invitation letter had been officially submitted to the KPK for Firli to attend. "However, Pak Firli's presence has not been seen in this room," he said.

After this event was held without Firli's presence, Giri Suprapdiono said that his presence in this debate was solely to explain TWK, which was a condition for changing the status of a KPK employee, which seemed closed. He also said that he wasn't the one who challenged Firli to a debate, but that this event was initiated by a netizen some time ago.

"I didn't challenge it, so netizens actually made this event, do you need to debate Pak Firli with me, then I answered, I'm ready. I asked jokingly there, if you lose, are you ready to withdraw or not, that's it," Giri told reporters.

"If it was me, I was ready to resign. So with that consequence today, if anyone is not ready to resign, I think it might be asked to the person concerned," he added