As the government on Friday announced the two final candidates for the vacant chairmanship of the Committee on Combating Corruption, anti-graft activists and analysts expressed concerns about the upcoming final selection process in the House of Representatives.
The 13-member committee that selected candidates for the commission, known as the KPK, the names of the last two candidates - lawyer Bambang Widjojanto, 50, Judicial Commission chairman Busyro Muqoddas, 1958 - the President submitted for approval. The two were selected from seven candidates after a round of recent interviews.
If approved, the candidates will face a 'fit and proper test for the house of Commission III, who oversees legal affairs.
Rocky Gerungs, a political analyst at the University of Indonesia, said the resistance to the candidates of political parties was inevitable.
"There is evidence from the House that politicians are trying to pick the worst possible candidate in an attempt to weaken the KPK," he told.
"Several legislators will also try the following KPK chairman in their pocket to get. So they will try to figure their political agenda will accommodate it," said Rocky.
However, Yuntho Emerson, Vice President of Indonesia Corruption Watch, said no candidate was likely to bow to political pressure.
"Bambang is highly critical of corruption within the House, while Busyro is consistent in his battle against graft in the judiciary," he said.
Several MPs immediately raised doubts about the two candidates, who both received strong support from anti-graft watchdogs.
Fahri Hamzah, a lawmaker from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said he would ask the selection committee to turn over all documents relating to the two candidates.
"The committee decision erratically," said Fahri. "These two figures were not the best candidates. Maybe there were other considerations in naming the two."
Gayus Lumbuun, a Member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said that by law, the House could reject both candidates. He refused to comment on.
Hasril Hertanto, a legal analyst from the University of Indonesia and chairman of the Indonesian Judicial Watch Society (Mappi), said Gayus comments indicated that some legislators intent on weakening the KPK.
The KPK chairman post is vacant since March, when interim President Hatorangan Tumpak Panggabean's appointment was annulled
"The selection committee has done a great job,".
"They were very transparent in their process and listened to the input of the members of society. This could serve as the standard for other selection procedures.
"I see no reason why the legislature would want both candidates to reject it. If they do, we can be sure that the rejection is politics."
Hasril said that during the last check, legislators, candidates no pressure to prosecute certain cases - or press the promises to follow up on some corruption scandals.
Nudirman Munir, the Golkar Party, confirmed that suspicion.
He said his party would push for prosecution of corruption cases around the bank bailout and the appointment of the century economist Miranda Goeltom to a senior Bank Indonesia in 2004.
"These cases will be our biggest concern during the Fit-and-proper test. We will not attempt the candidates independent of influence, but their views on these events will form the basis for the decision by Golkar's been," he told.
If approved, the candidates will face a 'fit and proper test for the house of Commission III, who oversees legal affairs.
Rocky Gerungs, a political analyst at the University of Indonesia, said the resistance to the candidates of political parties was inevitable.
"There is evidence from the House that politicians are trying to pick the worst possible candidate in an attempt to weaken the KPK," he told.
"Several legislators will also try the following KPK chairman in their pocket to get. So they will try to figure their political agenda will accommodate it," said Rocky.
However, Yuntho Emerson, Vice President of Indonesia Corruption Watch, said no candidate was likely to bow to political pressure.
"Bambang is highly critical of corruption within the House, while Busyro is consistent in his battle against graft in the judiciary," he said.
Several MPs immediately raised doubts about the two candidates, who both received strong support from anti-graft watchdogs.
Fahri Hamzah, a lawmaker from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said he would ask the selection committee to turn over all documents relating to the two candidates.
"The committee decision erratically," said Fahri. "These two figures were not the best candidates. Maybe there were other considerations in naming the two."
Gayus Lumbuun, a Member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said that by law, the House could reject both candidates. He refused to comment on.
Hasril Hertanto, a legal analyst from the University of Indonesia and chairman of the Indonesian Judicial Watch Society (Mappi), said Gayus comments indicated that some legislators intent on weakening the KPK.
The KPK chairman post is vacant since March, when interim President Hatorangan Tumpak Panggabean's appointment was annulled
"The selection committee has done a great job,".
"They were very transparent in their process and listened to the input of the members of society. This could serve as the standard for other selection procedures.
"I see no reason why the legislature would want both candidates to reject it. If they do, we can be sure that the rejection is politics."
Hasril said that during the last check, legislators, candidates no pressure to prosecute certain cases - or press the promises to follow up on some corruption scandals.
Nudirman Munir, the Golkar Party, confirmed that suspicion.
He said his party would push for prosecution of corruption cases around the bank bailout and the appointment of the century economist Miranda Goeltom to a senior Bank Indonesia in 2004.
"These cases will be our biggest concern during the Fit-and-proper test. We will not attempt the candidates independent of influence, but their views on these events will form the basis for the decision by Golkar's been," he told.
