Ridwan Max Sijabat and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – Eight years after its establishment in 2003 as an adhoc agency on the frontline of the nation's fight against systemic corruption, the national anticorruption body is now the main target of public scrutiny, with lawmakers and activists calling for a review of its "disappointing" performance.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is struggling to keep its credibility amid a series of scandals and increasing pressure from politicians, many of whom have been sent to jail by the commission for graft.
House of Representatives deputy speaker Anis Matta on Thursday blasted the KPK for being "loud" and having "low productivity". "I think this is the reason why its popularity has declined according to recent surveys," the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician said.
He was referring to an August survey by the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) that put the commission's approval rating at 41.6 percent, down from 58.3 percent in the previous survey.
The Muslim-based party PKS has been the commission's harshest critic. Another party member, Fahcri Hamzah, even called for its abolition, saying that the antigraft body had become a "super body" that was incompatible with democratic principles.
Though not as derisive as the PKS, other parties are also critical of the commission and have supported a planned evaluation of its performance and authority.
Golkar lawmaker Bambang Soesatyo said that the KPK should shift its priority from enforcement to prevention efforts. "Since the KPK's establishment, we have yet to see significant improvement in terms of graft eradication. Indonesia is still one of the most corrupt nations in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.
The KPK has been too busy busting corruption and has failed to address the root of the problem, he argued. "It is akin to a policeman who hides behind a tree waiting for motorists to run a traffic light. The police should instead conduct measures to raise motorists' awareness of traffic rules."
Ahmad Yani, a United Development Party (PPP) lawmaker, said the House's law commission would conduct an evaluation of the KPK during the upcoming selection of the KPK leadership candidates and during the deliberations of the planned revision to the 2002 KPK law.
The recent vindication of four KPK leaders of ethics breach allegations has drawn more criticism against the agency.
Setara Institute executive director Hendardi criticized the commission's ethics committee for clearing the troubled antigraft leaders, Busyro Muqoddas, Chandra M. Hamzah, Haryono Umar and M. Jasin, saying that they had overstepped their authority. "The ethics committee should not be protective."
Indonesia Corruption Watch member Emerson Yuntho said the fact that there were dissenting opinions about the committee's decision showed that "there were problems" within the commission. He suggested that the commission improve its monitoring to prevent abuses.
The activists said they were criticizing the KPK to improve its performance in the future, but added that they doubted that the lawmakers had the same intention.