Perppu for KPK

In spite of protests by anti-corruption activists, on 23 September, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) issued the Government Regulation in liue of Law (Perppu) which enabled him to appoint three leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) without approval from the Parliament (DPR).

Based on the Indonesian Constitution Article 22, the President may issue a Perppu in times of emergency and asked for DPR's approval afterwards. In this case, the Perppu by-passed the procedure stipulated by the KPK Law No. 30/2002.
Further, SBY has formed a Team of Five to select candidate KPK leaders who will be appointed by SBY in 7 days. The Team consists of the Coordinating Minister for Politics Law & Security: Widodo AS; the Minister of Law: Andi Matalatta, former KPK Chairman Taufikkurahman Ruki, Senior Lawyers Adnan Buyung Nasution and Todung Mulya Lubis.

In reaction to the issuance of the Perppu, former Constitional Court Chaiman Jimly Assiediqi said in TV interview that the Perppu is legitimate therefore should be implemented accordingly.

For details on the above, please read here, here, here, and here.

Although I share the opinion of those against the Perppu who feared that it might make KPK a subordinate of the President, however considering that the Team of Five consists of highly respected people in Indonesia, therefore I hope that the choosen KPK leaders would be able to work independently as their predecessors. And if the DPR do not agree with the Perppu, they can always cancel it.

Photo: Courtesy of Kompas.