Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – The House of Representatives' leaders came under strong pressure on Wednesday to expedite the fit-and-proper test to fill the vacancy in the Corruption Eradication Commission.

Gayus Lumbuun, a lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said the leadership vacuum in the Corruption Eradication Commission, also known as KPK, and the Attorney General's Office was hampering law enforcement.

The president has yet to appoint a new attorney general and the House has yet to name the new KPK chairman from among the two nominees given by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono more than a month ago.

Gayus said this places the country under "legal alert" because the two institutions could not make important decisions without their respective leaders.

"The House must immediately respond to this situation. At least we must appoint the new KPK chairman," Gayus said. "The House leaders must order the Commission III to hold the fit-and-proper test for the nominees."

Yudhoyono in August nominated rights activist Bambang Widjojanto and Judicial Commission member Busyro Muqoddas for the KPK chairmanship. The House Commission III overseeing legal affairs is tasked with conducting the fit-and-proper test.

Commission III chairman Benny K. Harman said the fit-and proper-test had actually started two weeks ago with the research of information about the nominees, but admitted the process had never been announced to the public.

"And remember, the law gives us 90 working days, since the names of the nominees were submitted by the president, to approve them or not," Benny said.

However, Gayus said the commission's leadership appeared bent on slowing down the appointment process. "Although we are in recess time, we must move forward by holding the fit-and-proper test now," Gayus said.

Tjatur Sapto Edy, Commission III lawmaker from the National Mandate Party (PAN), agreed with Gayus that appointing the new KPK chairman is important, but said the fit-and-proper test cannot be held immediately as most members of the commission are visiting their constituencies.

"I think it's very difficult to gather all the lawmakers now, so holding a fit-and-proper test now is impossible," Tjatur said.

Meanwhile, Bambang Soesatyo, a Golkar lawmaker and Commission III member, said the appointment of a new KPK chairman cannot guarantee improved law enforcement.

Bambang questioned the nominees' integrity and doubted their willingness to sacrifice their lives for anticorruption efforts. "I don't think they are brave enough to do anticorruption programs, so I don't think the fit-and-proper test is an important agenda," Bambang said.

House Speaker Marzuki Alie said House leaders are yet to plan a meeting that would tackle the fit-and-proper test. "I must discuss the suggestion first with other House leaders," Marzuki said.