THE SELECTION PROCESS for the 2024 Leadership Candidates for the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (Capim KPK) has gone through a series of stages, there are various challenges related to the figures who pass the Pansel selection and the interests in their determination.
General Chair of the Law Faculty Dean’s Forum and Chair of the College of Law at Muhammadiyah Universities throughout Indonesia, Faisal Piliang, said that the final decision regarding the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Committee for the 2024-2029 period will depend on the follow-up process in the DPR and the new government.
“Considerations of the new government under President Prabowo Subianto, where in his considerations nothing has changed from the stages of selecting the KPK Chief Executive determined by the controversial period of President Joko Widodo,” said Faisal in his official statement in Jakarta on Friday (8/11).
Faisal assessed that the future KPK Capim process would have issues regarding the legitimacy of the selection process carried out by President Joko Widodo’s government, considering that his term of office was on the verge of ending at that time.
“This tendency, which is far from a statesman’s attitude, in fact means that the elected KPK chief has a bad track record and has a weak agenda for eradicating corruption,” added Faisal.
“The release of these 10 names clearly proves that the Pansel does not understand the root of the KPK’s problems today,” he continued.
According to Faisal, the KPK candidate selection process must meet fundamental principles such as capacity, integrity, political independence and a track record that must not contain the slightest “flaw”. However, unfortunately, none of the names chosen by the selection committee have a good track record in eradicating corruption.
“This situation actually has the potential to add to the disaster of eradicating corruption in the future,” he said.
Various civil society organizations, one of which is the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI), have issued releases regarding problematic KPK candidates. In its official statement, PBHI assessed that KPK chief Johanis Tanak, who is currently Deputy Chair of the KPK for the 2019-2024 period, has fantastic wealth with a questionable increase in wealth.
“Tanak is also suspected of having violated the code of ethics due to a meeting with the suspect in the bribery case signing the case at the Supreme Court, namely the former commissioner of PT Wika Beton, Tbk., on July 28 2023,” wrote PBHI’s statement.
Another red note, Johanis Tanak allegedly sent a message or chat to the PLH Director General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on March 27 2023 which created a conflict of interest because the Corruption Eradication Commission was investigating allegations of corruption at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and issued statements that were detrimental and demeaning to the Corruption Eradication Commission in the Basarnas Corruption case in 2023.
“In addition to the things mentioned above, Johanis Tanak once apologized for the Head of Basarnas’ Hand Arrest Operation (OTT) and considered that the investigators made a mistake,” he said.
Next, there is the Capim of the Corruption Eradication Commission, Ibnu Basuki Widodo, who currently still serves as Judge for Dividing Special Criminal Cases at the Supreme Court/Judge at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court.
It is known that the amount of Ibnu’s wealth in the LHKPN has increased significantly, namely in 2020 amounting to IDR 2.1 billion, rising to IDR 4.1 billion in 2023. Ibnu Basuki even acquitted a corruption defendant in the case of procuring MTs science laboratory equipment at the Ministry Religion in 2010.
“Ibnu also prohibited mass media and journalists from covering the live broadcast of the e-KTP megacorruption case trial with defendant Setya Novanto when he served as Public Relations of the Central Jakarta District Court in December 2017,” he added.
Several other problematic KPK leaders include Fitroh Rohcayanto from the Attorney General’s Office. In the interview selection, Fitroh believed that the decline of the KPK was not due to the revision of the KPK Law but rather behavior that caused a decline in public trust.
There is also KPK Capim Djoko Poerwanto, Central Kalimantan Regional Police Chief, who during the selection interview did not know the status of his wife, who is a commissioner at PT MSK.
Apart from that, the selection process for KPK Candidates is also considered problematic if it relies on the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) Number 112/PUU-XX/2022, which mandates that the formation of a selection committee (pansel) for KPK Candidates and the KPK Supervisory Board (Dewas) for 2024-2029 should be carried out by President Prabowo Subianto, not by previous President Joko Widodo.
“This is where President Prabowo Subianto’s political-legal alignment is tested, his government’s initial commitment which stated that it would make eradicating corruption a priority should coincide with efforts to resolve the problem of the 2024-2029 KPK Chief Executive Election,” said Faisal.
Based on careful consideration, Faisal encouraged the government to immediately issue a Perpu to amend Law No. 19 of 2019 to restore the KPK as an independent anti-corruption institution with integrity, as well as returning the process for selecting the KPK Chief Executive for the 2024-2029 period to the authority of President Prabowo.
“We also ask the new President (to) have a strong political-legal commitment to the agenda of eradicating corruption in Indonesia by not passing the problematic KPK Chief Executive,” he explained.
Faisal also encouraged all PTMAs throughout Indonesia, especially Law Faculties and STIH PTMs throughout Indonesia to carry out in-depth academic studies and supervision of the current track record of the 2024-2029 KPK Candidates.
“And this study can be expressed in popular writings, policy briefs, or other academic products. “Hopefully the future of law, human rights and the environment will be better in the future,” he concluded. (Dev/I-2)
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**Interview with Faisal Piliang, Law Expert and Chair of Muhammadiyah Universities Law Faculty Forum**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Faisal. Can you start by explaining the recent developments regarding the selection of the new leadership for the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)?
**Faisal Piliang:** Thank you for having me. The selection process for the KPK leadership candidates for the 2024-2029 period has been quite complex. It has gone through multiple stages, but there are significant challenges surrounding the integrity and suitability of the candidates who have passed the selection committee’s assessments. As this selection revolves around political interests, it raises concerns about the future effectiveness of the KPK.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned in your statement that the influence of the new government under President Prabowo Subianto might affect the selection process. Can you elaborate on that?
**Faisal Piliang:** Certainly. President Prabowo’s administration has yet to convey any substantial changes from the previous government’s approach under President Joko Widodo. This continuity raises questions regarding whether the selection will prioritize true anti-corruption capabilities or simply follow political agendas rooted in the past administration, which has already faced scrutiny.
**Interviewer:** You brought up concerns about the candidates’ track records. What are some specific issues that you and civil society organizations have identified?
**Faisal Piliang:** There are several candidates, including Johanis Tanak and Ibnu Basuki Widodo, whose integrity has been questioned. For instance, Tanak has faced allegations regarding significant unexplained wealth and ethical breaches involving interactions with corruption suspects. Such histories cast doubt on their ability to lead an institution that must embody integrity and credibility to effectively combat corruption.
**Interviewer:** With these concerns in mind, what do you believe should be the fundamental principles guiding the selection of KPK leaders?
**Faisal Piliang:** The selection process must be grounded in crucial principles such as capacity, integrity, political independence, and an unblemished track record. Unfortunately, the current candidates do not meet these criteria, which could exacerbate the already challenging situation pertaining to corruption eradication in Indonesia.
**Interviewer:** How do you foresee the implications of this selection process on the KPK’s future efforts against corruption?
**Faisal Piliang:** If the selected leaders lack the proper qualifications and public trust, it will inevitably lead to a decline in the KPK’s effectiveness. We risk returning to a cycle of corruption, where the commission is unable to fulfill its primary mandate of eradicating corruption in a credible way, thereby damaging the institution’s reputation further.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Faisal. What steps do you think civil society and the public can take to address these issues?
**Faisal Piliang:** Civil society organizations must remain vigilant and vocal about the selection process and its candidates. Public engagement, transparency demands, and accountability measures are critical in pushing for a KPK leadership that genuinely seeks to uphold the rule of law and combat corruption. Together, we can advocate for a selection process that prioritizes quality over political expedience.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Faisal, for your valuable perspective on this important issue.
**Faisal Piliang:** Thank you for having me.