Former KPK Employee Has Not Thought Of Joining A Political Party

Former KPK Hotman Tambunan/IST officer

JAKARTA - Former Head of the Anti-Corruption Learning Task Force of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Hotman Tambunan said he and his colleagues had not thought about joining any political party.

He said that former KPK employees who failed to become State Civil Apparatus (ASN) through the National Insight Test Assessment (TWK) are currently more interested in joining the Liberation Union Party. The party was the brainchild of the former Head of the Drafting of Regulations and Legal Products at the KPK Legal Bureau, Rasamala Aritonang.

"I haven't thought about it yet (joining another party, ed). The value may also be different," said Hotman when contacted by reporters, Thursday, October 14.

Personally, Hotman said that he and Rasamala were discussing the United Liberation Party. "I'm also one of those who participated in the discussion, yes," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the idea of forming a party that came out of Rasamala's thoughts, Hotman said, it could have been based on the fact that his colleagues are angry to see the current situation where many party cadres are corrupt.

"Rasamala is hot, maybe seeing the party atmosphere that does not provide room for anti-corruption values where there are party cadres who are caught corrupt. As an idea and the idea is interesting, yes," he said.

As previously reported, Rasamala Aritonang said he wanted to form a political party after being dismissed by the KPK. According to him, political parties are strategic vehicles in a democratic system, although their existence has been criticized recently.

"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, the 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.

"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.