PKS Backs Up Government In Stopping Move To Weaken KPK

Kendari, SE Sulawesi (Antara Bali) - The Islamic Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) said it would go along with the government in stopping move to weaken the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

A draft law to revise the KPK law has been proposed by a number of lawmakers led by the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP).

The draft law calls for stripping KPK of much of its power in the fight against rampant corruption in the country.

PKS has from the beginning been against weakening KPK although one of its former presidents had been arrested by the agency and finally imprisoned for corruption    

"PKS would not take part in proposing the draft law. Revision of the  KPK law has no urgency at present," a senior leader of PKS Hidayat Nur Wahid said here on Wednesday night.

Hidayat said President Joko Widodo has rejected such move earlier .

"If the president is consistent in its position, PKS would throw its support for him," he added.

There are still many other jobs in priority, that have to be done by the Parliament such as law of protection of children  and labor, he said.

The Parliament should concentrate more on preparing draft laws on urgent issues rather than getting busy in creating unnecessary activities, he said.

"There are already many long delayed proposals for revision of other laws , and now they come up with new proposals that would take lengthy debate wasting time and energy," he said.

If the draft law is approved and passed into law KPK  would be disbanded in 12 years, the agency may handle only investigation of corruption cases involving more than Rp50 billion in state fund, and  it  will loss the authority to prosecute suspects.

The draft law has been widely protest as an attempt to weaken  and finally disband the anti graft agency to protect corrupt individuals.

Analyst even expressed suspicion that PDIP wanted to protect corrupt people among its top leaders.

The move by the ruling party placed it in opposing position with President Joko Widodo,a PDIP cadres, who has pledged to strengthen KPK. (WDY)