KPPU's Indef Value Economists NEED To Be Strengthened To Make The KPK Equivalent

Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) senior economist Didin S Damanhuri. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) assesses that the authority of the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) needs to be strengthened by law enforcement authorities so that it is equivalent to other law enforcement such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"Strengthening KPPU with law enforcement authorities such as wiretapping needs to be done in order to immediately collect two pieces of evidence, so that the process of handling cases can take place more quickly," said Senior Economist Indef Didin S Damanhuri in a statement quoted from Antara, January 6.

Didin assessed that strengthening KPPU is one solution for Indonesia to avoid the trap of middle-income countries or middle-income traps.

Didin recommended that the government dare to carry out various reforms, especially in the economic field to overcome Indonesia's economic problems caused by economic concentration in several large business actors.

Based on the data, the value of Indonesia's Power Index material is higher than that of other countries because national assets are controlled by 40 of the nation's richest people.

In addition, it was also emphasized that in the process of restructuring the market mechanism, the role of KPPU became very central, as the United States managed to implement in order to overcome the same problem.

Strengthening the authority to enforce KPPU law is actually also supported by information from the Handbook on Competition Policy and Law in ASEAN for Business, which is facilitated by the ASEAN Secretariat.

"Comparatively, Indonesia, especially KPPU, is the only authority for business competition from 10 ASEAN countries that do not have the authority to conduct searches and/or confiscate documents in the process of collecting evidence for violations of the law of business competition," he said.

In addition, Didin assessed that it was also necessary to strengthen the judicial process, empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and downstream natural resources or commodities-based businesses.