Jokowi Asks For Accelerated Asset Confiscation Bill, Mahfud MD: Immediately Sent To DPR

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (ANTARA)

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD conveyed that the Draft Law (RUU) on Asset Confiscation was immediately sent to the DPR according to President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) instructions for the process to be accelerated.

Mahfud MD said that he, together with ministers and heads of institutions from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the Ministry of Finance, the Attorney General's Office, the National Police, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), had balanced the script for the Asset Confiscation Bill.

"Earlier, the meeting tidied up technical and editorial issues, which would not affect the substantive material that was already underdeveloped by the official," Mahfud MD was quoted as saying by ANTARA, Friday, April 14.

He added that in the next 3 days he and representatives from ministries and institutions will also re-check the contents of the script, especially related to writing and other editorial matters.

"So that when the President (Joko Widodo) returns from abroad, we can immediately submit. So, there are no problems within the government. Hopefully this will run smoothly," said the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs after chairing a meeting to discuss the technical affairs of the Asset Confiscation Bill.

Mahfud added that later there would be a consignment meeting attended by echelon I-level officials to discuss technical matters such as re-crossing words that might be misjapersing, or typos.

"This must be read together again. It may be Monday (April 17). After that, we will convey it to the President," said Mahfud MD.

On several occasions, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, asked his staff to speed up the completion of the script for the Asset Confiscation Bill, because the bill has not been passed after it was first proposed more than 10 years ago.

"I have also conveyed to the DPR, the relevant ministries will immediately complete it. When it is finished, my part is to issue a presidential decree (presidential letter, ed.) as soon as possible, we have pushed it for a long time, how come it hasn't been completed?" said President Jokowi on the sidelines of his activities in Depok, West Java, last Thursday.

The Asset Confiscation Bill is currently included in the 2023 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) as part of the government's proposal.

"We continue to encourage the Asset Confiscation Bill to be resolved immediately, it is very important for this law," said the President.