Capability for Prevention is Key

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Antasari Azhar (center) and M. Jasin (left) meet the invitation of the selection committee for the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Tuesday (2/7/2019) in Jakarta to give input. They hoped that the KPK leaders have complementary skills in accordance with the tasks carried out by the institution.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) selection team hopes to pick candidates with diverse skills, not just in investigation and litigation, but also with skills in corruption prevention and management. The capability to prevent corruption was necessary to close loopholes and recover the state’s money.

Former KPK commissioners Antasari Azhar, M. Jasin and Chandra Hamzah reaffirmed the need in their discussion with the KPK selection team on Tuesday (2/7/2019). The registration for KPK commissioner candidates closes on 4 July.

Earlier, in an exclusive interview on Monday with Kompas chief editor Ninuk M. Pambudy, President Joko Widodo highlighted the importance of corruption prevention. The President said he hoped the KPK selection team would come up with a list of new KPK commissioners that met the people’s aspirations and could prevent corruption.

Many believed corruption prevention programs as an urgent need. The KPK and the government must be able to develop a system that made it difficult for people to engage in acts of corruption. “Developing such a system is important in preventing corruption. In the future, we hope that the KPK can prioritize corruption prevention,” said President Jokowi.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo speaks with the selection committee members for the candidates of the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (17/6/2019). At the meeting, which was attended by nine members of the selection committee, the President conveyed his commitment to eradicating corruption and asked the selection committee to work optimally to secure the best KPK leaders for the 2019-2024 period. Registration for candidates for KPK leadership began Monday (17/6/2019) and will run until 4 July.

Diverse skillset

Antasari said that composing a team of KPK commissioners that included prosecutors, police investigators and professionals of other fields would create a KPK leadership that possessed diverse capabilities.

Prosecutors and police investigators were needed to ensure detailed monitoring of corruption cases. Experts in prevention and monitoring were required to recover more state money.

M. Jasin said that the KPK still lacked coordination and supervision in corruption prevention. He said that preventing corruption was inseparable from bureaucratic reform.

Two days before the registration deadline, 133 individuals have registered as candidates in the KPK commissioner selection process. The KPK selection team has yet to decide whether to extend the registration deadline.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Members of the selection committee for the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Yenti Garnasih, speak to reporters after meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (17/6/2019). At the meeting, the President conveyed his commitment to eradicating corruption and asked the selection committee to work optimally to secure the best KPK leaders for the 2019-2024 period. Registration for candidates for KPK leadership began Monday (17/6/2019) and will run until 4 July.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said that the nine high-ranking police officers who had registered as KPK commissioner candidates had the capacity to lead the commission.

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said that compliance with reporting personal wealth was one consideration in selecting the new commissioners. (INA/SAN/NTA/HAR/IAN)