Yusril: Luhut's Proposal on Defining Corruption is Worth Considering

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra deemed the proposal by the Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, to redefine corruption worth considering.

"What Mr. Luhut said is indeed worth our consideration," Yusril stated at the Presidential Complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (21/10/2026).

Yusril argued that the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which has been ratified by Indonesia, primarily focuses on the recovery of state losses and bribery.

However, since its ratification in 2006, UNCAC's contents have not been aligned with the Corruption Eradication Law, which was last revised in 2001.

When the new Criminal Code (KUHP) was shaped, the definition of corruption in that legislation still referred back to the Corruption Law, which is over 20 years old.

"So it is indeed accurate when Mr. Luhut states that our anti-corruption law does not refer to international legal conventions and that no other country has a definition of corruption like ours," Yusril explained.

As a result, the prevailing laws in Indonesia view all actions harming state finances as corruption.

"Thus, we truly need reform for our own good moving forward," he added.

According to Yusril, the current definition of corruption in Indonesia has caused many officials within state-owned enterprises to hesitate in making decisions.

In the business world, it is common to experience profits and losses.

"So, Mr. Luhut is correct in saying that many government officials and state-owned enterprise executives are fearful of making decisions because they worry about losses. When there are losses, it is deemed corruption. However, when profits are made, nothing happens," he stated.

Nevertheless, Yusril noted that the Anti-Corruption Law will not be revised in the near future as it does not fall within the priority national legislation program.

However, Yusril is prepared if a process begins to amend the Anti-Corruption Law to accommodate this proposition.

"The principles have been agreed upon by the President. I heard that from Mr. Luhut, and if that is the case, it indeed makes it easier for us, for me, Mr. Supratman, and other law enforcement officials to start contemplating improvements to the corruption law itself," he disclosed.

Luhut suggests state losses are not corruption

Previously, Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, proposed to President Prabowo Subianto that state losses should not be included in the definition of corruption.

This is based on DEN's study referring to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which Indonesia ratified through Law No. 7 of 2006.

"Yes, we refer to the UN Charter regarding the definition of corruption, which in the UN Charter ratified by Indonesia 20 years ago is bribery. It does not talk about state losses," Luhut said at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (21/10/2026).

"The President also agreed with the study prepared by the team from the National Economic Council regarding the definition of corruption. This is important to ensure that corruption handling in Indonesia meets international standards," he added.

Luhut emphasized that Indonesia has so far been the only country applying the principle of state losses as corruption.

"Because Indonesia is the only country applying the matter of state losses, which indeed burdens entities like Danantara when conducting business, as obviously every business carries risks," he remarked.