Anita Rachman, Jakarta – The ruling Democratic Party on Monday criticized an attempt by lawmakers to tie the selection of an antigraft commissioner to the 2008 Bank Century bailout through an "integrity pact."
Several factions in the House of Representatives have proposed that the two candidates for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) be asked to sign the pact.
It would require them to investigate alleged graft surrounding the controversial Century bailout should they be appointed to the KPK and later elected to head the body.
The Century case has dominated the House's agenda for much of this year, and was used by lawmakers to attack Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who eventually resigned to take a post at the World Bank.
Jafar Hafsah, chairman of the Democrats in the House, questioned why lawmakers were so eager to emphasize one case while failing to mention others. "Why should it only be about the Bank Century case? A pact must not mention individual cases, but all cases," he said.
On Sunday, lawmakers demanded the two final candidates for the KPK – human rights lawyer Bambang Widjojanto and Judicial Commission Chairman Busyro Muqqodas – sign a pact to investigate graft allegations surrounding the Century bailout.
The People's Conscience Party (Hanura) and the Golkar Party are the two initiators of the pact, with the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) supporting the idea.
Hanura legislator Syarifuddin Sudding and Golkar's Bambang Soesatyo, both members of House Commission III, which will vet the two candidates, said they would not vote for any candidate who refused to sign the pact.
They said the Century case would be the biggest test for the next KPK leader, as it allegedly involved top officials. In June, the KPK told the House it had not found any indications of corruption in the bailout.
Benny K Harman, the House Commission III chairman from the Democrats, said the pact was unacceptable. "No, they cannot put forward a pact, that's another way of dictating to the two candidates," he said. He added that no act could not guarantee the candidates' integrity.
Another Democrat on Commission III, Didi Irawadi Syamsuddin, also said the pact was inappropriate. He said the commission only had the power to question and assess the candidates.
"I strongly criticize the idea – is the [pact] meant to be used as a political tool? Don't forget that we have this tax brokers case that is strongly believed to involve conglomerates. The KPK should focus on probing that," he said.
"We shouldn't push the KPK to handle certain cases; the KPK should handle all cases."
Didi praised Bambang and Busyro and said both candidates had the necessary skills and intangible qualities to lead the KPK. He also said the Democratic Party would ask the candidates to focus on the tax brokers case.
Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar, however, praised the proposed integrity pact, calling it "tremendous progress" by Commission III. He said it was important the Century bailout was properly investigated.
He said once the names of the candidates were given to the House, Commission III was free to assess them in any way it saw fit.
Patrialis also said that under the law, the candidate chosen by Commission III would not automatically chair the KPK. The House will choose the chairman from the new commissioner and the four existing ones.
The House will also have to discuss with the government whether the newly elected KPK commissioner will be appointed for one or four years.