It's Not Settled Yet, KPK Investigator Deactivates Harun Al Rasyid: I'm Still Optimistic The President Defends Us

Illustrated (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The head of the inactive Investigating Task Force (Kasatgas) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Harun Al Rasyid chose not to immediately clear his desk, as did a number of his colleagues who will be expelled at the end of September.

The decision, said Harun, was taken because he still believes that President Jokowi will defend him and dozens of other employees who were removed from the anti-corruption commission after being declared unable to pass the National Insight Test (TWK).

"I haven't finished it yet. I'm still optimistic that the President will defend us," Harun told reporters via text message, Friday, September 17.

He believes that the former governor of DKI Jakarta will consider input from the public and will consider his decision carefully.

"He's a careful person. I'm still sure he will defend my friends who don't pass the TWK," said Harun.

Meanwhile, regarding further steps, he said the matter had been discussed with a number of non-active KPK employees who had the same fate. However, until now, Harun said that dozens of anti-corruption commission employees were still waiting for President Jokowi's attitude.

"Hopefully in the not too distant future the President will take a firm stance," he said. It was previously reported that 57 employees can no longer work at the KPK because they cannot become ASN according to the mandate of the KPK Law Number 19 of 2019. These employees include senior KPK investigators Novel Baswedan and Ambarita Damanik, Chairman of the KPK Employee Forum Yudi Purnomo, KPK investigator Harun Al-Rasyid, and dozens of other names.

The anti-corruption commission argued that their inability to become ASN was not due to laws and regulations such as Perkom KPK Number 1 of 2021, but because of the results of their assessment.

Not only that, the KPK also ensures that employees have been given the same opportunity even though they have passed the age limit or have stopped being ASN before.