KPK chairman can retain post, presidential expert staff says

Acting Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean will likely retain his post in the anti-graft body for a while despite lawmakers’ recent rejection to his holding of the position.

The House of Representatives’ Commission III overseeing legal affairs decided unanimously on Tuesday night to reject the 2009 Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) on acting KPK chief, the post having been held by Tumpak since October last year after being left vacant by former KPK chief and now murder convict Antasari Azhar.

Presidential expert staff for legal affairs Denny Indrayana said the lawmakers’ decision was not final yet as it should be nevertheless approved by a House plenary session, and that even if it did not change it did not mean that Tumpak should automatically leave the post.

“It’s because there is this presidential decree serving as legal ground for Tumpak’s (position in the KPK), which was issued when the Perppu still had a force,” Denny said in an SMS to The Jakarta Post.

“Besides, the KPK’s position and job have now far improved; it is wise not to disrupt the condition so as to maintain the effectiveness of corruption eradication measures in the country,” he added.