Former KPK Employee Rasamala Aritonang Plans To Create A Political Party: There Is An Opportunity To Build A Clean-Integrity Party

Rasamala Aritonang during his activities to dry corn in his hometown (Photo: Twitter: @paijodirajo)

JAKARTA - Former Head of the Drafting of Regulations and Legal Products at the KPK Legal Bureau, Rasamala Aritonang, said that he would become a political party after being expelled from his previous job. According to him, political parties are strategic vehicles in a democratic system, but their existence has recently been criticized.

"I think that if I want to make changes that have a big impact, political parties are one of the strategic vehicles in the democratic system. Meanwhile, the public criticizes political parties a lot, so actually I see there is a great opportunity to build political parties that are clean, with integrity, and are accountable," he said. Rasamala was quoted from his written statement, Wednesday, October 13.

However, this intention is still being discussed with his colleagues and later he will ask for views from national figures. Moreover, this party will have a strategic agenda to rid Indonesia of the rampant racism practice.

Rasamala did not deny that the effort to establish a political party which would later be billed as the United Liberation Party would not be easy. However, he believes that the party he formed will be able to encourage various changes, including an Indonesia that is free from corruption.

"The conditions for establishing a political party are indeed complicated but worth trying. If it can be realized (the United Liberation Party), I believe we can provide even stronger impetus for change, and progress for Indonesia of course requires Indonesia to be free from corruption," he said.

Meanwhile, when asked about the possibility of joining another party, Rasamala admitted that he and his colleagues who were eliminated from the KPK after failing to become a State Civil Apparatus (ASN) were not interested. The reason is that the existing party ideology is not necessarily in line with their thinking.

"Meanwhile, the idea is to build a party that is clean, with integrity and accountability. We haven't thought about offers from parties, but in the context of building alliances to advance the country, all possibilities can be explored," said Rasama.

As previously reported, the KPK has officially dismissed tens of its employees with respect last September 30. They were dismissed because they could not become ASN according to the mandate of the KPK Law Number 19 of 2019.

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 ASN, not because of laws and regulations such as Perkom KPK Number 1 of 2021, but because of the results of their assessment in the TWK.