The Fate Of The Novel Baswedan Et Al At Ujung Tanduk, Saut Situmorang: These People Trade Meatballs They Can Eat

Former Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Saut Situmorang/Antara

JAKARTA - Former Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Saut Situmorang, said 57 KPK employees, including Novel Baswedan, were strong people.

Because, until now Novel Baswedan et al are still fighting against injustice in the National Insight Test Assessment (TWK) process.

"They have been really tough all this time", Saut told VOI when contacted by telephone, Friday, September 17.

"Obviously, yes, so they have really been tested. This is a matter of injustice. If then the Indonesian people are silent about this, no. This must be resisted", he added.

Saut said these employees would have no trouble working anywhere after being fired. However, this resistance must be carried out because in the test process as a condition for the transfer of employment status, it is suspected that maladministration and fraud have occurred.

He also emphasized that these employees do not need to be pitied because they are not crybaby people, are still young, and have the opportunity to open up new opportunities.

"They are strong people, people who have portfolios that I think can go to a much better place", said Saut.

"I always say, including at the opening of the emergency office, I say, 'if to eat, these people just trade meatballs can also eat'. But this is actually related to justice and honesty", he added.

Finally, he also revealed that Novel Baswedan et al have never complained about the fate of those who will be kicked out at the end of September. They only confirmed that they would continue to fight.

"This fight will continue because it is unjust and I don't think they are a crybaby, they have never complained to me. In fact, even though there is diplomacy, they will say, "no! If I want, I can find a job myself. You don't have to bargain". They said that", said Saut.

It was previously reported that 57 employees can no longer work at the KPK because they cannot become ASN (State Civil Apparatus) 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-Rashid, as well as dozens of other names.

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

Not only that, but 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.