Jokowi Calls The KPK Successfully Achieves Public Trust In Today's Memory, 29 December 2015

President Joko Widodo with the 3rd President, Bacharuddin Jusuf (BJ) Habibie, 6th President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) when inaugurating the new KPK building on December 29, 2015. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Memories of today, nine years ago, December 29, 2015, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) succeeded in achieving public trust. Jokowi said this when he inaugurated the new KPK building on Jalan Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta.

Previously, the KPK was known as an important product in the reform era. The presence of the KPK made corrupt officials afraid. The KPK always follows them. At its peak, the KPK was able to arrest many corrupt officials who were detrimental to the state.

The practice of corruption is a difficult thing to lose in state life. That practice has infected Indonesia's high institutions. Pessimism arises because of it. People call the narrative of eradicating corruption like nonsense.

Everything changed when Megawati Soekarnoputri's administration established the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) since 2002. The presence of the KPK is the mainstay of eradicating corruption in Indonesia. The KPK is able to take part in tracking corruptors who have the potential to harm large-scale countries.

As a result, many major corruption scandals were revealed to the public. The public began to recognize the performance of the KPK. Moreover, if the role of the KPK continues to be strengthened by the government, the KPK will not only be based in Jakarta, but in the regions.

The KPK continues to step on the gas in the era of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). The KPK can even move freely to carry out its actions indiscriminately. The ruling party, the Democratic Party, has only been investigated. Several high-ranking Democratic Party officials became suspects and were detained for corruption.

This condition makes people's admiration for the KPK even higher. The KPK continues to make achievements for the sake of achievement. Moreover, in 2013. The KPK received the prestigious Ramon Magsasay Award 2013.

The award was given because the KPK was an inspiration for countries in Asia in eradicating corruption. It is a fact because many Asian countries deliberately travel to the KPK to observe the way the anti-corruption agency catches corruptors.

"The positive track record made the KPK rewarded with the Ramon Magsasay award in 2013, a prestigious award at the Asian level. Although far from expectations, at least the KPK has shown changes in the realm of eradicating corruption. This should be appreciated," said ICW Coordinator for Law and Justice, Emerson Yuntho as quoted by the CNN Indonesia page, December 29, 2014.

The KPK continues to carry out its actions against corruption. This action was also realized in President Jokowi's government. This condition made Jokowi fully support the KPK. Jokowi gave support because eradicating corruption is one of Jokowi's focuses on becoming President of Indonesia.

Jokowi also admitted that the KPK succeeded in attracting public trust on December 29, 2015. The statement was made by Jokowi during the inauguration of the new KPK building in Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta. Jokowi, who was present with national figures and former Indonesian presidents, BJ Habibie and SBY, also hopes that the KPK can become the end of the tombang for eradicating corruption.

Jokowi promised to strengthen the KPK. Even though in a period of two governments the opposite thing happened. The KPK was even weakened.

"Public trust that has been achieved must be maintained and improved by continuing to work more professionally, more intensively and sustainably, so that it can maintain the authority of the institution".

"Like all Indonesian people, I have high hopes for the KPK to create a clean government, and Indonesia that is free of corruption. This is the interest of all Indonesian people. Indonesia can rise to become a great nation, if we are free from corruption," said Jokowi at the KPK's New Building as quoted by the ANTARA website, December 29, 2015.