Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – Anti-corruption activists are calling on President Prabowo Subianto to follow through on his public declaration supporting the long-awaited asset forfeiture bill, a stalled legislation that is expected to reinvigorate the country's flailing fight against graft.
Prabowo reaffirmed his administration's commitment to eradicate corruption during the commemoration of International Workers' Day, or May Day, at the National Monument (Monas) complex in Central Jakarta on May 1.
"In the context of eradicating corruption, I support a law on asset forfeiture," the President said in a fiery 30-minute speech in front of the workers and representatives of labor groups.
He then aimed at corruptors, whom he declared should not have it easy: "They have stolen, but are unwilling [to return their ill-gotten assets]. It's better that I just confiscate them."
Prabowo's statement on corruption eradication was made in response to six demands from the labor groups during the May Day rally, which included a call for improved corruption eradication efforts through the passage of the asset forfeiture bill, which has stalled at the House of Representatives for over a decade.
A glimpse of hope for the bill emerged in May 2023, when then-president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo sent a draft of the bill as well as a presidential letter to the legislature, green-lighting its deliberation. But no progress was made until the end of his presidency in October 2024.
Expectations were also high that the bill would find its momentum when Prabowo took office, given that all but one party with seats in the House are part of the ruling Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM).
While making its way to the mid-term 2025-2029 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), the asset bill was not included in the list of bills prioritized to be passed by the end of this year.
All roads lead to law
With no significant progress in the legislature, Prabowo's commitment to graft busting would remain "only in rhetoric" if he does not pressure parties in his coalition to drum up support for the asset forfeiture bill in the House, said Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Yassar Aulia.
"Sentiments are not enough," he said. "Given that 80 percent of lawmakers are members of his coalition and that Jokowi had already sent a letter to the House, there's no reason not to start [the bill's] deliberation."
Even if Prabowo finds difficulty in consolidating political support for the bill, he may resort to issuing a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu), which will force lawmakers to open deliberations to make it into law starting from the next sitting period, according to Zaenur Rohman of the Gadjah Mada University's Center for Anti-Corruption Studies (Pukat UGM).
"We have seen this with the revision of the Indonesian Military [TNI] Law," Zaenur said, referring to the regulation that was passed one month after Prabowo sent a presidential letter to give a go-ahead for its deliberations.
Both Yassar and Zaenur emphasized that the passage of the asset bill could strengthen efforts to eradicate corruption, particularly when it comes to regulating illicit enrichment among public officials and making sure much of their ill-gotten assets can be seized by the state.
Waiting game
Coordinating Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Friday, a day after Prabowo's speech, that the government was ready and simply waiting on lawmakers to work on the bill.
Calling the bill essential to determine which and when illicit assets could be confiscated by the state, Yusril emphasized that every aspect should be regulated by law "to ensure justice, legal certainty and respect for human rights", he said in a statement.
House Legislation Body (Baleg) chair Bob Hasan of Prabowo's Gerindra Party said on Monday the body had made the decision that deliberation of the bill was a "priority".
But when being asked when the deliberation is expected to start, Bob said lawmakers were "waiting on the government", declining to elaborate further.
House deputy speaker Adies Kadir of the Golkar Party said on Friday that deliberations for the asset bill would only start after the revision of the Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP) finishes, as reported by Antara.
House Commission III overseeing legal affairs is still finishing the KUHAP revision. It is aiming to wrap up the deliberations by the end of this year, so the new law can align with the new Criminal Code that was passed in 2022 but that will only take effect in January of next year.