Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has shrugged off reports that more than 30 of its employees have resigned since the current leadership board took the helm late last year.
In a statement, it said that it respects the decisions of those who decided to leave but had greater respect for those who stayed.
The latest to quit is high-profile KPK spokesperson, Febri Diansyah (pictured) bringing the total number of departing employees to 38.
Mr Febri said his primary reason for leaving was last year’s legislative amendments which, he believed, weakened the KPK’s authority and manpower.
Deputy Chair of the KPK, Nurul Ghufron said the disgruntled former employees could not accept that times had changed.
“Today’s KPK is different from earlier when it had all the resources and authorities it needed,” Mr Nurul said.
“We have tremendous respect and honour for those who stay with the KPK in more difficult times — a true gentleman won’t leave before the job is done,” he said.
Mr Nurul congratulated those who had stayed “who understand that changes are inevitable”.
Last year the House of Representatives amended the 2002 law governing the KPK on the grounds that the Commission had been too powerful with too little oversight.
The amended law introduced an oversight body inside the Commission, made it mandatory for all KPK staff to join the Public Service and stripped the Commissioners’ once wide-ranging authority to investigate and prosecute corruption cases.
Critics say the new law cripples the respected anti-graft Agency which has won a reputation for uncovering high-profile graft cases involving top politicians and close cronies of past Presidents.
Jakarta, 28 September 2020
