The complexities of investigations done by the Anti-corruption Commission into the case of E-KTP (electronic ID card) procurement that led Parliament special committee to exercise the Right to Inquire the Anti-corruption commission has stirred wariness among people, especially related to law enactment to counter corruption practises. This situation has caused the academic community members and alumni of UGM to express their stance that is based on scientific studies made by competent experts. This is voiced in the movement called as UGM for Integrity.
“UGM for Integrity is a form of support from UGM to uphold the values of integrity which currently is being abused by certain people for their own benefits. The goal of the UGM movement is to try to minimise social costs due to corruption cases inflicted to the people of Indonesia, be it the current or the next generations,” said Dean of Faculty of Law UGM, Prof. Dr. Sigit Riyanto, S.H., LLM., in a declaration to launch the UGM for Integrity movement on Monday (17/7) at the Balairung UGM.
Sigit said lecturers of UGM initiated a moral movement, UGM for Integrity, as a form of commitment of UGM academic community and alumni to support anti-corruption measures. This is based on academic studies produced by experts from UGM in response to the process of inquiries plans by Parliament towards the Anti-corruption Commission.
“As a science community, we academic community of UGM are obliged to contribute our thoughts to the efforts and prevention of corruption through academic studies,” he added.
The UGM studies on the plans to exercise the Right to Inquire the Anti-corruption Commission by Parliament found out that actually Right to Inquire is a parliamentary constitutional right as a form of control by parliament, and the Indonesian constitution stipulates the Right to Inquire as the Parliament constitutional right to investigate the description from the government (executives) which are the President, Vice-President, and/or ministers and other assistants – whether collectively or on their own. So, the plan to exercise the Right to Inquire bodies other than the government (executives) is actually contradicting the constitution.
“The Anti-corruption Commission is an independent body which is not part of the government. Hence, such Right is flawed in terms of the subject and object as well as formal procedures,” said UGM law professor, Prof. Dr. Maria S.W. Sumardjono, S.H., M.C.L., M.P.A.
Not only that, the studies also stated that such right is deemed to be suspected as a form of counter-attack to the anti-corruption measures which blocks investigation into corruption crimes. Based on these studies, through the UGM for Integrity movement, UGM academic community and alumni recommends the Parliament and Constitutional Court.
“We the academic community of UGM urge the Parliament to stop the plan to exercise the Right to Inquire the Anti-corruption Commission as it contradicts the Constitution and the laws. We also encourage the Constitutional Court to prioritise the judicial review on the Articles of such right instead,” said Dean of Faculty of Psychology UGM, Prof. Dr. Faturochman, M.A., witnessed by lecturers, students, and staff that attended the declaration.
Up to now over 1,000 members of UGM academic community have signed a petition rejecting the plans of Special Committee to Inquire the Commission. One of the petition initiators, Dr. Rimawan Pradiptyo, said that the number of signings was 1,027, and opportunities are still open for other members to sign.
“We still open the opportunities for lecturers, lectures, and alumni to give their signatures through the ugm-berintegritas.com until Wednesday, 19 July, at 12 p.m.” he said.