Prabowo Asked To Accelerate The Asset Confiscation Bill Instead Of Forgiving Corruptors

President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta (doc Setneg)

JAKARTA - Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) assesses that President Prabowo Subianto is better off pushing for the Asset Confiscation Bill to be discussed immediately in parliament. This step is more concrete than the discourse to forgive corruptors as long as they return the proceeds of their crimes.

"Considering the discourse to forgive corruptors, for ICW, President Prabowo should focus on encouraging the acceleration of the discussion of the Asset Confiscation Bill," said ICW Coordinator Agus Sunaryanto in a written statement quoted on Monday, December 23.

Agus said the Asset Confiscation Bill is more in accordance with Asta Cita which focuses on strengthening political, legal and bureaucratic reform, as well as strengthening the prevention and eradication of corruption. So, Prabowo should send a letter to the DPR RI so that discussions can be carried out.

Moreover, there are many benefits from the Asset Confiscation Bill rather than forgive corruptors. The concrete step that Prabowo can take is to immediately send a Presidential Letter or a presidential decree to submit the Asset Confiscation Bill as a top priority to be immediately discussed in the DPR," he said.

"In addition, when this bill is passed, it can also restore state assets and then be used to support the acceleration of a number of government priority programs," continued the anti-corruption activist.

Prabowo's discourse to forgive corruptors as long as they return the state's money emerged when they met Indonesian students at Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, December 18. He said he was giving them the opportunity to repent.

"I've been in these weeks, these months, I'm trying to give myself the opportunity, give me a chance to repent. Hey corruptors, or those who have felt like stealing from the people, if you return those you stole, maybe we will forgive, but return them," Prabowo said as broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Thursday.

"Later we will give it a chance. How to return it secretly so it doesn't get caught. Return it, but return it," he continued.

Previously reported, the DPR approved 176 bills for entering the 2025'2029 Prolegnas and 41 bills for entering the 2025 Priority Prolegnas during a plenary meeting, Tuesday, October 19.

However, the Asset Confiscation Bill is not included in next year's priority prolegnas. This regulation is included in the medium-term bill to be discussed in the period 2025'2029.