Novianti Setuningsih – The leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission has spoken out against plans by the legislature to revise its enabling act, which some fear is part of an effort to hobble its antigraft drive.

"So far the [enabling act] has served us well, so we see absolutely no urgent reason for the House of Representatives to revise it," said Busyro Muqoddas, deputy head of the body known as the KPK.

Speaking in Jakarta on Thursday, Busyro was cynical about plans for groups of lawmakers to undertake overseas fact-finding trips at public expense. "Of course, that's the House's right, especially Commission III, to go traveling around overseas. That's their right," he said.

A team of 10 lawmakers, headed by Tjatur Sapto Edy, the deputy head of the House commission that handles legal affairs, was intending to visit Australia to learn about the country's anti-corruption provisions. But Tjatur said on Wednesday that the trip would be to Hong Hong and South Korea, and "might take place next month."

Busyro's comments were bolstered by Deputy Justice Minister Denny Indrayana, who said the KPK itself ought to be consulted on whether revisions to its mandate were required.

"The KPK understands best whether its enabling act is still appropriate or not," Denny said. "Let's not go trying to change the KPK law, because that could open the door to moves that could weaken the KPK."

Denny went on to describe the revision plans as a setup – likening the graft busters to comic book crime fighters Batman, and the House members as trickster-enemies. He said that despite House members' purported goal to strengthen the KPK, they would actually undermine the organization.

"From experience, we know we should be very careful with the legislative process, because, there are many parties who wish the KPK to be weakened," the deputy minister said. "We had better not push the process in that direction [revisions] because the KPK will be caught in a Batman trap. Instead of strengthening the KPK, its law enforcement authority will be removed."

Denny, previously the secretary for the Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force, said that it was not the first time that House members had tried underhanded strategies to hobble the KPK.

"Back when the Anti-Corruption Court Law was being discussed, a similar move was tried, which was to remove the KPK's right to wiretap. Back then, the discussion went further toward removing the right to prosecute," Denny recalled.