The Center for Anticorruption Studies (PUKAT) at the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University (FH UGM), held a public discussion titled DIKSI (Discussion on Corruption) on Wednesday (September 10, 2025). Under the theme “Assessing the Commitment to the Legal Reform and Anti-Corruption Agenda of the Prabowo Administration,” the event featured Erwin Natosmal Oemar, a legal practitioner and researcher at Centra Initiative, as the keynote speaker.
This discussion served as a forum to reflect on the state of the legal system in Indonesia, which is considered to be at a critical juncture. The legal reform agenda, which has been championed since the Reformation era, is seen as facing serious challenges, particularly due to the persistence of case-trading practices, the use of the law as a political tool, and repressive actions by law enforcement officials. According to Erwin, the current situation is not merely stagnant but has shifted into a tangible regression.
“It’s difficult to talk about the anti-corruption movement amid the current situation. This is no longer a crossroads, but a decline,” Erwin emphasized. He added that several indices indicate a negative trend in legal reform efforts, signaling that the aspiration to realize a fair and accountable legal system is moving backward.
In his presentation, Erwin also emphasized the importance of protecting civil rights in support of the anti-corruption agenda. According to him, the fight against corruption cannot succeed if civil society’s freedom to monitor and speak out is suppressed. He advocated for a technocratic approach to legal advocacy, stressing the importance of concrete, evidence-based solutions to improve legal norms, address human rights issues, and ensure access to justice.
The discussion concluded with the assertion that efforts to build a legal system that guarantees certainty, justice, and public benefit require a major paradigm shift. It is not enough to focus solely on institutional aspects; it also involves the commitment, attitudes, and behavior of government officials. Without these, the legal reform agenda risks becoming nothing more than empty rhetoric.
This DIKSI public discussion is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The themes of combating corruption and legal reform are directly linked to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, as they emphasize the importance of transparent, accountable, and responsive governance that serves the public interest. Furthermore, this forum contributes to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by bringing together academics, legal practitioners, and civil society to collaboratively seek technocratic solutions to strengthen the legal reform agenda. Thus, DIKSI serves not only as a space for academic reflection but also as a tangible contribution to supporting fair and sustainable legal development in Indonesia.
This news article is adapted from the website Center for Anti-Corruption Studies (PUKAT)
