ICW Admits Hearing The KPK News Will Be Merged By The Ombudsman: Information Has Been Discussed At Bappenas

ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana (left)/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Kurnia Ramadhana agreed that his party heard the news that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) would be merged with the Ombudsman. The meeting was even said to have been held by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).

This was conveyed by Kurnia when attending a public discussion entitled Corruption Eradication: Reflection and Hope' held by the KPK. Initially, he did not heed the information because he considered it an unclear news of his origin.

"So at first many said, 'ICW friends have heard not that there is a plan for the KPK to take action to be removed as a precaution'. At first we didn't heed it but gradually the information became more detailed," said Kurnia in a discussion at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, April 2.

Kurnia said that one of the information received by her party was that there was a meeting to discuss the merger. "This has been discussed at Bappenas, the plan is to make the KPK, a corruption prevention agency, merge into the Ombudsman," he said.

This condition made ICW assess that the government, especially Bappenas, must open its voice. If true, this idea must be criticized because the existence of the KPK is still needed to eradicate corruption in the country.

"If it comes to the conclusion that the KPK must prevent it, if the corruption perception index (CPI) is already (in the numbers, ed) in the 70s, 80s, that's okay. This is our CPK, there are still 30s, many problems, even the KPK leadership admits that there is a weakening of the eradication of corruption today," said the anti-corruption activist.

"So if the conclusion is to change the KPK to prevention, of course, it is the wrong solution," continued Kurnia.

Kurnia also emphasized that the rumors of the combination of the KPK and the Ombudsman should not only be considered a wind. "Of course we don't agree because we think the KPK is still important and inappropriate if it is only prioritized on prevention," he concluded.