President Rejects Plan To Revise Law On Anti-Graft Body

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- President Joko Widodo has turned down the plan to revise the law on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) under the national legislation program (prolegnas).

"The president stated that he has rejected the proposal for the revision of the KPK law," acting chief of the KPK Taufiequrrahman Ruki told the press at the Presidential Office here on Friday evening following a limited meeting on corruption eradication.

Jokowi, who led the meeting, rejected the plan on the grounds that it was not high on the list of priorities, he said.

"It will be revised under Prolegna 2016, not Prolegna 2015. I don't know why there was a proposal to expedite its revision, but it is clear that the president rejected it," he affirmed.

With the president dismissing the planned revision of the law, the House of Representatives (DPR) will find it difficult to discuss the subject, Ruki remarked.

"The revision of the KPK law will be done only after everything has been synchronized, not earlier than that. We asked for it and the president welcomed it," he stated.

"The KUHP (Criminal Code) and KUHAP (Criminal Code Procedures) must first be revised and adjusted according to the UNCIC. Only after that has been completed can we discuss the revision of the KPK law," Ruki pointed out.

Moreover, Speaker of the DPR Setya Novanto said he was not aware of the president's opinion.

"The DPR only wants to strengthen the KPK. We badly need this," he noted on the sidelines of a function to break the fast at the State Palace.

Novanto added that the parliament will discuss the planned revision of the law on the anti-graft agency with the government.

"Let's wait and see. We want the KPK to be strong, and that is our only expectation," he emphasized. (WDY)