Noviani Setuningsih & Edi Siprianus Hardum, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission has slammed the House of the Representatives for pressing on deliberations on a controversial revised criminal code, which among other impacts would curtail the antigraft body's scope for tackling corruption cases.
The deputy head of the body known as the KPK, Busyro Muqoddas, said the government and the House of Representatives were deceiving the public by proceeding with revisions to the criminal code (KUHP) and criminal procedures code (KUHAP) despite a massive public outcry.
"Are they [lawmakers] certain about the quality of the revisions when 80 percent of them are too preoccupied with the thought of securing their position in the house? This is perfect political hypocrisy," Busyro said on Saturday, referring to the upcoming national elections.
The KPK has consistently criticized a proposed amendment to the KUHAP that stipulated it must obtain a court order before tapping an individual's phone; and another provision transferring sentencing request authority for graft defendants from the KPK to the Attorney General's Office.
The current draft has also been lambasted for outlawing cohabitation by unmarried couples and the dissemination of ideas based on Marxism – potentially criminalizing millions of lovers and trade unionists alike.
Busyro warned that if lawmakers and the government continued to ignore public concerns over the draft criminal provisions, they would meet stiff opposition. "It's not the time to relive the new order era where political lies were common, people now have become more politically conscious," he said.
House speaker Marzuki Ali said despite criticisms the discussion on the draft code must proceed, although he denied a hidden agenda to undermine graft-busters. "We certainly do not want the KPK's authority to be weakened," he said Sunday.
Marzuki said the KUHP and KUHAP were in need of revision because they were outdated and no longer relevant. "Even the Netherlands is no longer using those laws, that is why we need to immediately conclude the amendment and endorse the laws," he said.
The proposed revised KUHP and KUHAP have been criticized by not only the KPK but other organizations, including Indonesia Corruption Watch and Gadjah Mada University, which have urged the House to temporarily halt discussions. Many of the articles were potentially counterproductive with the country's effort to modernize and eradicate corruption, critics said.