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Two names left in race to take up battle against corruption

Source
Jakarta Globe - August 27, 2010

Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – Lawyer and academic Bambang Widjojanto and Judicial Commission chairman Busyro Muqoddas have been named as the final two candidates for one of Indonesia's most formidable, and dangerous, jobs – chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission.

The 13-member selection committee submitted the final two names to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for approval on Friday. Once approved, both candidates will undergo a fit-and-proper test before the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III for legal affairs.

Justice Minister Patrialis Akbar, who chairs the selection committee, said both candidates met the committee's standards of integrity and competence.

Patrialis added that former presidential advisor Jimly Asshiddiqie and prominent lawyer Melli Darsa also met the same requirements but the committee questioned their commitment to the commission, also known as the KPK.

During their final interview, the two said that they would resign from their respective bids if the conditions at the KPK were not favorable to them.

Committee member Todung Mulya Lubis said that retired police officer Insp. Gen. Chaerul Rasyid and prosecutor Sutan Bagindo Fachmi were rejected because of their questionable track records. Legislator I Wayan Sudirta, meanwhile, was rejected over his political ties to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

The KPK has been without a chairman since March, when interim chairman Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean's appointment was annulled. He had been appointed to lead the body following the dismissal of now-jailed former chairman Antasari Azhar's over murder allegations.

Analysts say the KPK have been left badly wounded after attempting to take on three of Indonesia's most corruption institutions, the Attorney General's Office, National Police and the House of Representatives.

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