The wait is over. On September 17, 2019, after three years of back and forth, the House of Representatives and the Government finally agreed to promulgate the Bill on Water Resources into Law. As such, the Law No. 11/1974 on Irrigation is declared no longer valid.

The dispute between Kusnadi Rahardja (the founder of Boga Group) and Sushi-Tei Indonesia continues. On September 16, 2019, the first hearing on the latest lawsuit filed by Sushi-Tei was held by the Commercial Court of the Central Jakarta District Court. We have learned more on the dispute from the Company’s legal counsel. 

Despite the Government’s efforts to end forest fires, the situation in several affected regions has not improved. The police conducted their investigations and have named over 170 suspects. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry also conducted their investigations, but what they have done so far is not satisfying that the people demand more. On September 14, 2019, the Ministry held a press conference to announce the latest status of their investigation. They revealed that in addition to sealing over 40 concessions, the Ministry also sealed several concessions owned by companies funded by foreign investment from Singapore and Malaysia. 

Last week, the Commercial Court of the Central Jakarta District Court registered a lawsuit for Suspension of Debts Payment (PKPU) filed against PT Odira Energy Karang Agung (OEKA). We have not heard much about the Company since the news of its acquisition by PT Ratu Prabu Tbk (ARTI) made headlines in 2015. That said, what we heard in the past year was not good news. Since 2017, the Company has had to face dozens of lawsuits, eight of which were registered in 2019. 

We have reached to a point where ‘criticizing KPK = supporting corruption’. It is true that KPK managed to create a public perception about its performance, thanks to its flashy sting operations and the arrest of high-profile politicians and business people. So massive media coverage on its actions that public seem to believe corruption eradication = KPK, making the agency untouchable. It is not healthy for the future of corruption eradication, and the whole democracy.

Back in July 2019, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a Sting Operation in the Riau Islands and arrested several people. The day after, the KPK announced the chronology of the case of alleged bribery and named suspects in the case including Riau Islands Governor one Nurdin Basirun. In addition to the case of alleged bribery, the KPK also named Nurdin suspect in the case of alleged graft. On September 12, 2019, the KPK announced that they had named new suspect in the case, the new suspect is supposedly the bribee. But questions remain.

The dispute between Kusnadi Rahardja (the founder of Boga Group) and Sushi-Tei Indonesia will not be over anytime soon. So far, there are four lawsuits filed by the parties against each other in two different district court, but that’s not enough. Sushi-Tei Indonesia filed another lawsuit to the Commercial Court of the Central Jakarta District Court. The content of the petition makes the dispute even more confusing. 

Like a stock, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has gained significantly from its ‘IPO’ in 2003 during Megawati years. KPK skyrocketed to become the an ‘overvalued stock’. So strong that KPK tends to stand above the law. Absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely. Only God knows excessive use of the agency’s wiretapping rights without any court warrant.

The Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court has begun the trial of Romahurmuziy (Rommy), the former chairman of the United Development Party (PPP). Rommy was named a suspect of bribery after he was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in a sting operation held in March 2019. The indictment read by the Prosecutors mentioned the alleged involvement of the Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin. Lukman, as we all know, is also a PPP politician.