President Prabowo directs swift passage of long-pending Asset Forfeiture Bill

President Prabowo directs swift passage of long-pending Asset Forfeiture Bill

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has directed the government to accelerate the passage of the Asset Forfeiture Bill, Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas announced on Friday following the 2026 Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and Joint Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta.

The directive comes as the long-pending legislation, first proposed in 2008, remains under deliberation by Commission III of the DPR, which oversees legal affairs and laws, human rights, and security matters. The bill is widely viewed as a critical instrument in strengthening Indonesia's anti-corruption framework, enabling the state to recover illicit assets more effectively.

"The president's directive to the law minister is clear: it must be expedited. But because this is a legislative initiative of parliament, we are waiting," Agtas said, emphasizing that the government is prepared to engage in joint discussions once the DPR completes its deliberations.

Nearly two decades in the making

The Asset Forfeiture Bill has faced significant delays over its 18-year history, driven by normative debates on non-conviction based asset forfeiture (NCB), political bargaining within the House of Representatives, and institutional limitations in managing forfeited assets. Commission III Chairman Habiburokhman previously noted that the bill would take longer to pass than other laws because its legal framework is entirely new, unlike revisions to existing legislation.

The bill was initially listed in the 2024-2029 Medium-Term National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) as a government initiative but was later changed to a DPR initiative and included in the 2025 Priority Prolegnas. The National Legislation Program serves as the official framework for lawmaking in Indonesia, containing a prioritized list of draft bills proposed for deliberation by the DPR, government, and DPD.

According to Deputy Chairman of the DPR's Legislative Body Martin Manurung, the Asset Forfeiture Bill remains the sixth priority bill proposed by the DPR, with Commission III currently conducting public hearings to gather input from various stakeholders.

International obligations and ongoing debates

Indonesia ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption through Law Number 7 of 2006, legally binding the country to implement the convention's provisions while maintaining national sovereignty. As part of ongoing deliberations, lawmakers are debating whether to adopt the term "asset recovery" in line with UNCAC terminology, or retain the current title "Asset Forfeiture Bill."

Law Minister Agtas declined to comment on the substance of the proposed legislation, stating he would wait until the DPR completes its deliberations.

"I do not want to comment on the substance yet because the government will certainly have its own position. The President's directive to us is clear, but we are waiting first for the DPR's legislative initiative. After that, the government will discuss it jointly with the DPR, including through the Ministry of Law," he said.

Parliament has conducted a series of public hearings over the past month as it seeks views from various groups in society on the bill. Commission III aims to complete the draft this year as part of its legislative priorities.