The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) uncovered the graft case in the regency of Pakpak Bharat back in November 2018. By July 2019, all suspects in the case, including the disgraced Regent of Pakpak Bharat, had been convicted. But the KPK did not stop there and continue investigating. On September 24, 2019, KPK announced that they had named three new suspects in the case. 

The joint team formed to combat the forest fires has been trying to produce rain for over three months now. Their efforts bore fruit. Rain has started pouring in some areas affected by forest fires. Although not all affected areas have felt the benefits of the hard work, this is still good news that all parties wanted to hear. As the impact of forest fires began to ease in some areas, the police and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry continue their investigation. Until September 23, 2019, the number of corporate and individual suspects continues to grow.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo recently visited Riau to check on the forest fires that had ravaged parts of the province. When the President came, the Governor of Riau was abroad. This led to student protests demanding local government responsibility. Near the end of last week, the Riau regional police and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry reported their results in the handling of the forest fires in Riau.

The last time we reported on the Land Bill was on October 23, 2018. At the time, the President held a closed cabinet meeting and discussed the continuation of the deliberation of the Land Bill. The Bill, as we all know, was included in the National Legislative Program (Prolegnas) in 2015. A draft exists, and the Government had submitted a problem inventory (DIM) on said draft to the House of Representatives at the end of 2017. Government ministries responsible for agrarian issues are supposedly unable to agree on some matters, and hence the deliberation of the Bill has been delayed. The ministries had supposedly found common ground in 2018, but well, since then nothing happened. Now, amid social unrest caused by the plan to promulgate the controversial Bill on Criminal Code, after the promulgation of Bill to revise the Law on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Government and the House of Representatives reportedly will also promulgate the Land Bill. But a lot of parties voiced their disagreement stating that there are a lot of issues that still need further discussion. 

The trial of Markus Nari, the latest defendant in the Electronic Identity Card (E-KTP) procurement graft case, continues. Markus previously objected to the prosecutor’s indictment, stating that the prosecutors had used the wrong articles in the charges. That said, the Panel of Judges rejected the objection and decided to continue the proceedings. The latest hearing was held on September 18, 2019. 

This week, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) continues examining several companies who did not submit their notification of acquisition on time. Some of the companies examined are related to each other. Also, the KPPU finally held the first hearing of the trial into the allegations of cartel practices in ticket rates and cargo transportation in the national aviation industry.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo flew to Riau on September 16, 2019. He led a meeting where he expressed his disappointment in the handling of forest fires. The President had instructed his underlings to focus on fire management since the beginning of the year, and yet we’re still struggling with forest fires. His threats and instructions seemed useless. When the President came to Riau, the Governor was abroad. It was a mess. Compare that to the handling of forest fires in West Kalimantan. The Governor of West Kalimantan is the only head of region who has been routinely providing information on forest fires in his province. He also directly led various activities to stop forest fires.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has announced the development of their investigation into the case of bribery involving officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI). The KPK named two new suspects, including the Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi. Imam is the representative of National Awakening Party (PKB) in the cabinet and the second minister of Jokowi’s cabinet ensnared by the KPK. 

The long-awaited amendment to the Law on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was promulgated yesterday, September 17, 2019. The discussion on the amendment was finalized within less than three weeks despite the strong rejection of many. A lot of people questioned the fast and discreet discussion, but we are not so surprised because the plan to revise the Law was listed in the 2015-2019 National Legislation Program.