Megawati Actually Agreed to Asset Confiscation Bill, But Worried About Abuse: Mahfud MD Reveals

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD revealed that former President Megawati Soekarnoputri was generally in favor of the ratification of the Asset Confiscation Bill (RUU Perampasan Aset). However, he added that Megawati harbored concerns about the bill being misused, particularly as a "tool for extortion" for political purposes. The bill aims to confiscate assets obtained through corruption and other crimes. Asset confiscation has long been considered a crucial issue in Indonesia, and the bill is expected to serve as a powerful tool to deter illicit activities by depriving criminals of their ill-gotten gains. However, during the bill's deliberation process, careful discussions have been held regarding its implementation methods and scope of authority. Specifically, the risk of arbitrary application by those in power and asset confiscation based on political motives has been pointed out. Megawati's concerns are understood to be related to the potential risks in the bill's implementation. Mahfud MD's statement suggests that while acknowledging the bill's importance, ensuring transparency and fairness in its operation is indispensable. The future direction of discussions towards balancing the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts in Indonesia remains a focus of attention.