Many Former Employees Change Profession After Being Expelled By KPK, Febri Diansyah: Position Is Not Important Than Maintaining Principles

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah (Mahesa ARK/VOI)

JAKARTA - A number of former employees of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) who were expelled for failing to become a State Civil Apparatus (ASN) through the National Insight Test (TWK) have changed professions. Some of them are now in the culinary business to raising livestock.

Responding to the situation, former KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah appreciated and learned lessons from his colleagues. According to him, former employees have proven that high positions are not as important as their efforts to maintain principles and integrity.

"From what the KPK employees who were removed by TWK did after their retirement, I learned one thing: position and income are not as important as maintaining principles and integrity. Maintaining something that is believed to be true," Febri said in a tweet on his Twitter account @ febridiansyah quoted by VOI on Thursday, October 14.

For those who are slaves to positions and money, they will never understand the path taken by these 58 former KPK employees. Starting from fried rice, cake, online shop to goat farming. Keep fighting. In time we will return to serve this nation. Against corruption! Against corruption!

— Febri Diansyah (@febridiansyah) October 13, 2021

This anti-corruption activist said that there were several former KPK employees who had actually been lured into positions in State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) on condition that they submitted an application to the leadership. Even though it was tempting, they steadfastly refused the offer because TWK had eliminated those who were struggling to eradicate corruption.

"They refuse. Not because they think SOEs are bad, but they understand that such a method can be part of the stage of removing employees who are tasked with eradicating corruption. Moreover, the process is legally flawed," he said.

Moreover, the former KPK employees are not afraid of losing their livelihood. They opposed the dismissal as an attempt to correct the policy that caused the polemic.

Furthermore, in a different thread, Febri believes that those who prioritize position and money will not understand the thoughts of the former anti-corruption commission employees. Moreover, many of them are now moving away from their previous jobs.

"For those who are servants of office and money, they will never understand the path taken by these 58 former KPK employees. Starting from the fried rice business, cake, online shop to goat farming," said Febri.

"Keep fighting. In time we will return to serve this nation. Against corruption! Against rot!" he added.

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 is 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.

After being dismissed, a number of former employees then swerved from their old profession. In fact, based on data held by the former Chairman of the KPK Employee Forum, Yudi Purnomo Harahap, there were seven former employees who chose the culinary business.

They are former investigator, Ronald Paul Sinya; former Youth Public Relations Specialist, Ita Khoiriyah or Tata; former functional Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Legal Bureau, Juliandi Tigor Simanjuntak to former Corruption Detection and Analysis officer, Panji Prianggoro.