Perfect Leaders Needed at KPK

· 4 minutes read

Many are hoping that the Corruption Eradication Commission leadership selection committee (Pansel KPK) will choose the perfect figure to lead the antigraft body. Next week, the official list of candidates will be announced for public vetting.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Registration for the 2019-2023 KPK leadership candidates closed on Thursday (4/7/2019). Many hope that the selection committee will choose figures who are clean and daring, as well as deeply knowledgeable about legal issues and state affairs. The public must look carefully into the backgrounds of all candidates.

By Thursday at 4 p.m., 348 individuals had registered for the KPK leadership selection process. However, the number may still go up, as registration was open until midnight.

During the preliminary verification, the Pansel KPK found that the majority of candidates were academics and lawyers. They also include police officers and military personnel, police and military retirees, prosecutors and judges, as well as KPK officials and sitting commissioners.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said in Jakarta that he hoped the perfect figures would be chosen as the next leaders of the KPK. “[They must be] clean, daring and knowledgeable in legal issues and state affairs,” he said.

Kalla also hoped that the new KPK commissioners would be proactive in not only arresting corruptors but also pursuing prevention efforts. The KPK leadership selection committee must choose figures known for making careful considerations before any decision.

Transparency International Indonesia (TII) secretary-general Dadang Trisasongko said that, in terms of human resources, the KPK should be led by visionary figures with strong commitment to eradicating corruption. The KPK leaders must also understand currently developing issues.

“In resolving corruption cases, KPK leaders must be capable of internal consolidation with KPK employees. With this in mind, it is equally important to staff the KPK with specific skills, considering that corruption cases are becoming more complex,” said Dadang.

Announcement of candidates

Human rights activist Hendardi said that many of the registered candidates had yet to submit the required documents. The Pansel KPK has given them until 9 July to submit all documents. Nevertheless, the administrative selection process will begin this Friday (5/7), with the shortlist of approved candidates to be announced on Thursday (11/7).

Afterwards, the names of the candidates will be announced for public vetting. It is hoped that members of the public will provide input to the selection committee, especially regarding the candidates’ track records.

“There will be a competency test, a psychological test and a profile evaluation. The public vetting will be followed by an interview and a medical checkup. The public vetting is new. Our target is to submit the names to the House of Representatives for vetting in September,” said Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, a member of the selection committee.

Law enforcement

Several law enforcement bodies, including the prosecutor’s office, the National Police and the KPK, are represented among the registered candidates.

Kompas has found that the KPK’s sitting commissioners, Alexander Marwata, Basaria Panjaitan and Laode M. Syarif, are all seeking another term. Meanwhile, the KPK’s prevention deputy Pahala Nainggolan, public service director Giri Suprapdiono, human resources head Chandra Sulistio Reksoprodjo and advisor Tsani Annafari have also registered along with other KPK officials to bring the total to 16.

Nine police officers have registered, including National Police Chief expert staff Insp. Gen. Ike Edwin. Ike’s name was not included in an earlier mention of nine police officers rumored to vie for a position among the KPK leadership. Of the nine officers named earlier, eight were found to have registered.

“One of them pulled out, as [he could not] meet one requirement,” said National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo.

Meanwhile, five prosecutors have registered: South Sumatra Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati) head Sugeng Purnomo, Attorney General’s Office (AGO) state administrative affairs director Johanis Tanak, Central Sulawesi Prosecutor’s Office head M. Rum, AGO leadership and management center head Ranu Mihardja and coordinator Supardi of the AGO special crimes junior prosecutor, who was formerly the KPK’s prosecution director. (NTA/IAN/SHR)

Editor:

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