Waiting For Novel Baswedan And Friends To Respond To Bids To Become Bhayangkara Corps State Civil Apparatus

Novel Baswedan and employees who were expelled from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) (Wardhany Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - Novel Baswedan and dozens of employees of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) who have been expelled since Thursday, September 30, have not responded to the offer of the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who intends to make them as State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in the police force.

Former Director of Socialization and Anti-Corruption Campaign of the KPK, Giri Suprapdiono, said he and 55 other employees were still waiting for an explanation from the Police regarding Listyo's wishes and holding discussions with several parties.

"Our position is still waiting for clarity from several parties, especially the National Police, including opinions from the National Human Rights Commission, the Indonesian Ombudsman, and the Anti-Corruption Civil Society Coalition", Giri said when contacted by VOI, Friday, September 1.

He also ensured that all processes to respond to the offer were ongoing and had no effect even though they had established the Indonesia Calling (IM) 57+ Institute.

The institution was established to eradicate corruption after dozens of these employees were dismissed from the KPK. This anti-corruption institution will unite with the Anti-Corruption Civil Society Coalition to carry out work tailored to the capabilities of the employees still on duty at the KPK.

In addition, the IM 57+ Institute was also formed because the employees feel indebted to the community. Remember, they used to be paid from public money and get the ability when carrying out their duties.

Those who will later fill the IM 57+ Institute are the former Deputy for Coordination and Supervision of the KPK Hery Muryanto; former Director of PJKAKI KPK Sujanarko; former KPK investigator Novel Baswedan; former Director of Socialization and Anti-Corruption Campaign of the KPK Giri Suprapdiono; and former Head of the KPK HR Bureau Chandra SR as the Executive Board.

In addition, there will also be an Investigation Board consisting of senior investigators and investigators, a Law and Strategic Research Board consisting of legal experts and senior researchers, and an Education and Training Board consisting of experts in anti-corruption education and training.

"(The establishment of IM 57+ Institute, ed) is not related (the offer from the Head of the Indonesian National Police, ed)", said Giri.

The certainty that the IM 57+ Institute was not their way of rejecting Listyo's offer was also conveyed by the former Head of the KPK Internal Learning Task Force Hotman Tambunan. He said this institution will only serve as a forum to voice the value they have received in the anti-corruption commission.

"It's a forum or forum for us to continue to voice the values that got us kicked out of the KPK, namely transparency, accountability, independence, and integrity", said Hotman.

The National Police emphasizes the need for Novel Baswedan et al. The Bhayangkara Corps also continues to emphasize its seriousness towards the discourse of appointing Novel Baswedan et al as ASN. Now, the Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Inspector General Argo Yuwono, said that this intention was not merely a batman trap.

"There is no such thing as a trap for the police. If you look at it when the National Police Chief conveys a press conference related to KPK friends with a fresh expression, which then becomes serious and of course it is very clear that the National Police Chief has given them hope", said the Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Argo Yuwono told reporters.

He emphasized that another reason for this recruitment effort was to strengthen the Polri institution in terms of taking action against corruption. It is hoped that the eradication of corruption will always be maximized.

Moreover, the former KPK employees have good skills and track records. So they are expected to help to create a corruption-free country.

"The point is that the police are serious because, with the need for organization and a good track record, the police need something like this", he said.

In addition, the National Police are also reluctant to have polemics about red labels or the stigma that cannot be fostered that emerged after Novel Baswedan et al failed to pass the National Insight Test Assessment (TWK). Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Rusdi Hartono, even said that the dozens of employees who had been expelled from the anti-corruption commission still had hope and a future.

"Of course we are wiser to look ahead, we all still have a future, hope, of course, this future we both filled with good things", said Rusdi.

So on the order of the Chief of Police, he continued, the police will open the door as wide as possible for them if they want to join. However, Rusdi did not specify the extent of the recruitment process.

He only emphasized that the Police HR Assistant would coordinate with the Ministry of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform (KemenPAN-RB) and the National Civil Service Agency (BKN). "What is clear is that HR Assistant was ordered by the National Police Chief to communicate and coordinate with related ministries or institutions. The order was like that", said Rusdi.

It was previously reported that 58 employees were declared unable to work at the KPK because they could not become ASN according to the mandate of the KPK Law Number 19 of 2019 as of the end of September. The 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.

In addition, there was also a young investigator, Lakso Anindito, who failed after taking a follow-up test because he had just finished his assignment. The KPK argued that they could not become State Civil Apparatus, not because of laws and regulations such as KPK Commission Regulation Number 1 of 2021, but because of the results of their assessment.

Ahead of the dismissal, the National Police Chief admitted that he wanted to recruit 56 KPK employees who did not pass the TWK to become National Police State Civil Apparatus. This wish was conveyed in a letter to President Jokowi last week and was approved.

There is also the reason Sigit wants to recruit tens of these employees because the Police need human resources to strengthen the line of prosecution of corruption cases. Moreover, the Police are currently also focusing on handling the recovery of COVID-19.