It's Final, KPK Employees Not Passing TWK Still Fired

Deputy Chairperson of the KPK Alexander Marwata (Photo; KPK Doc)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) rejected the request to cancel the follow-up report on the fate of employees who failed the National Insight Test (TWK) as a condition for the transfer of employment status. This means that as many as 51 employees out of 75 who are declared unqualified will still be fired.

"The minutes contain general agreement regarding follow-up for employees who pass the TWK, employees who will take part in state defense training, and employees who will be honorably dismissed," said Deputy Chairman of the KPK Alexander Marwata to reporters quoted on Friday, July 9.

He said the KPK leadership had also written to representatives of employees who had failed in the TWK on June 30. The letter contained an answer from the leadership who could not fulfill the requests of his employees.

Moreover, discussing the fate of KPK employees who fail the test is not only the decision of the leadership. There are a number of institutions that participated in the negotiations and agreed to the decision, namely KemenPANRB, Ministry of Law and Human Rights, State Civil Service Agency (BKN), State Administration Agency (LAN), and KASN.

These ministries and institutions, continued Alex, are delegations of the President's authority to implement policies, professional development, and ASN management.

"KPK emphasizes that this coordination meeting and the entire process of transferring KPK employees to ASN is the implementation of compliance with the principles and provisions of applicable laws," he said.

Furthermore, Alex ensured that the dismissal of dozens of his employees would not interfere with the handling of corruption. The KPK, he said, would remain independent in carrying out its duties.

"We hope that the public will continue to support the KPK in fighting corruption. So that this joint effort will have a real impact on the welfare and prosperity of the Indonesian people," he said.

Previously, one of the KPK employees who did not pass the TWK, namely Hotman Tambunan, questioned the attitude of KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri who pulled other institutions to terminate dozens of employees.

This attitude can be seen from the official report dated May 25 which was circulated in which there were signatures from the heads of other institutions. In the minutes there was a decision to dismiss 51 KPK employees who were declared not to have passed the TWK.

Feeling objections, Hotman and a number of employees who did not qualify sent letters addressed to the KPK leadership, Menpan RB, Menkumham, Head of BKN, Head of LAN, and Chairman of KASN.

"We feel this is a form of arbitrariness of state officials, there are no rules that authorize them to participate in deciding the appointment and dismissal of KPK employees. Actions like this are a category of arbitrariness which is strictly prohibited as stated in Articles 17 and 80 of Law Number 30 of 2014 about Government Administration," said Hotman.