Sent Letter To Jokowi, ICW: Chaos Of KPK And Eradication Of Corruption Happened Because You Failed To Be Firm

President Jokowi/Presidential Secretariat Youtube

JAKARTA - Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) sent a letter to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) via electronic mail or e-mail and online motorcycle taxis addressed to the State Palace today.

The letter signed by the ICW Coordinator Adnan Topan Husada contains the situation of eradicating corruption in the country, especially after the dismissal of Novel Baswedan and dozens of employees of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was accelerated from the scheduled end of October to 30 September the day after.

In the letter, Adnan initially mentioned the decline in public trust in the KPK. This decline has also caused efforts to eradicate corruption to run uncertainly and experience setbacks.

"Efforts to eradicate corruption have experienced uncertainty and even setbacks. Indonesia's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in 2020 deteriorated and made Indonesia again a country that is considered highly corrupt," the letter said.

With this condition, ICW then considers President Jokowi incapable of taking a firm stance against those who interfere with efforts to eradicate corruption.

"We observe, observe and evaluate that the turmoil of the KPK and the eradication of corruption in Indonesia occurred because the President failed to take a firm and strict stance against anyone who interferes with efforts to eradicate corruption," said Adnan, Tuesday, September 28.

Not only failing but Jokowi is also considered to have opened an effort to weaken the KPK through the revision of the KPK Law which occurred in 2019. "In addition, the issue of the controversial election of KPK leaders cannot be separated from the participation and responsibility of the President of the Republic of Indonesia," he stressed.

President Jokowi is also considered to have run away from his responsibility to resolve the polemic of the National Insight Test Assessment (TWK) for KPK employees. According to him, the silence shown by Jokowi is the same as agreeing to the dismissal based on the arbitrariness of the KPK leaders.

Before closing his letter, Adnan then reminded President Jokowi that he had a very big responsibility. "A serious and serious corruption eradication is part of that responsibility," he said.

He also mentioned that the country's success in fighting corruption is also based on its leaders. So, President Jokowi should be able to do introspection in carrying out his responsibilities.

"This nation should be sorry, Indonesia has been better at eradicating corruption but not today," the letter concluded.