Jakarta – President Joko Widodo has indicated openness to restoring the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law to its previous form. The current law, revised during his presidency, has faced criticism, and the potential reversal comes following a suggestion from former KPK Chairman Abraham Samad.
“I agree, it’s good (to return the KPK Law to its previous version), because that (the revision of the KPK Law) was an initiative of the DPR (House of Representatives), you know. Don’t get it wrong, it was an initiative of the DPR,” Jokowi said, as reported by detikJateng on Friday, February 13th, 2026.
Jokowi clarified that while the revision occurred during his time in office, it originated with the DPR. He also emphasized that he did not sign the revised law.
“Yes, indeed (the KPK Law was revised). At that time, it was revised at the initiative of the DPR, but I did not sign it,” he stated.
The announcement comes as Indonesia’s Minister of Law and Human Rights, Supratman Andi Agtas, confirmed the government will review the possibility of reverting to the older version of the law. “We will study it within the government,” Supratman said briefly when confirmed on Sunday, February 15th, 2026.
Minister Supratman did not elaborate on the reasons behind the Prabowo administration’s willingness to consider the change, nor did he comment on the likelihood of the KPK Law being restored to its original state.
The potential reversal of the KPK Law is significant given concerns raised about the independence of the anti-corruption agency. A report from the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), covering the period from 2019 to 2024, found that by the end of Jokowi’s first term, the KPK had effectively lost its independence. The 2019 revision of the law is cited as a key factor in this decline.
The 2019 revisions to the KPK Law were themselves the subject of widespread protests across Indonesia. Demonstrations, largely led by students, took place in major cities from September 23rd to October 28th, 2019. Protesters voiced opposition to the revisions of the KPK Law, as well as proposed changes to the Criminal Code (RKUHP), and other bills related to mining, land, labor, and correctional procedures. The protests also highlighted delays in the passage of the Elimination of Sexual Violence Bill (RUU PKS).
The protests involved a range of actors, including student unions from various universities, the Executive Body of Students (BEM), labor unions such as the Congress of Indonesia Unions Alliance (KASBI), and the Indonesian Peasant Union (SPI). The government response involved the House of Representatives, the Indonesian National Police, the Mobile Brigade Corps, and the Indonesian Army.
The protests ultimately led to delays in the passage of the Criminal Code (RKUHP) Bill, the Correctional Procedures Bill, the Land Bill, and the Mining Bill. The events of 2019 underscore the sensitivity surrounding changes to laws impacting Indonesia’s anti-corruption efforts and the potential for public unrest.
