Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – Legislators lambasted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday for stalling the inauguration of the incoming chairman of the antigraft commission, Busyro Muqoddas, who was elected by the House of Representatives nearly a month ago.
Nasir Djamil, a member of House Commission III overseeing legal affairs, said on Wednesday that Yudhoyono should be criticized for "not immediately inaugurating Busyro without giving a clear explanation to the public".
"I don't understand why he has been so unresponsive. The Corruption Eradication Commission [KPK], as well as any other corruption-related matters, are considered as sensitive issues by the public these days," he told The Jakarta Post, adding that this would create the impression that the President has deliberately tried to undermine the KPK.
Nasir is a politician from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which is a member of the ruling coalition led by Yudhoyono's Democratic Party.
Legislator Gayus Lumbuun from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) also lashed out at Yudhoyono, whom he said had been very lethargic when it came to fighting graft.
"Yudhoyono is burdening the KPK by delaying the inauguration. The anti-graft body already has so many cases to handle and yet their incoming chairman has still not been installed," Gayus said.
Busyro, who still chairs the Judicial Commission, garnered the most votes from House Commission III members on Nov. 25, edging out his sole competitor, attorney and anti-graft advocate Bambang Widjojanto.
The House also decided that Busyro's term will end in 2011 along with the terms of other KPK leaders elected in 2007. The move has drawn criticism from graft watchdogs who expected Yudhoyono would extend Busyro's term until 2014.
His election coincided with the appointment of Basrief Arief as the new Attorney General. Yudhoyono inaugurated Basrief on Nov. 26 only a day after announcing that he tapped the veteran prosecutor to lead the Attorney General's Office.
Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said the President had planned to swear in Busyro this week. "Hopefully, next week the new KPK chairman will be installed."
Busyro said he would not push the government to inaugurate him as soon as possible. "I am not in the position [to push]. I don't want to have negative thoughts about this. I am still the Judicial Commission chairman today and there are still so many things to do. I would prefer to focus on my current job here," he said.
Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) also voiced disappointment on Yudhoyono's indecisiveness. ICW's Emerson Yuntho urged Yudhoyono to sign the 2010-2025 National Strategy and Action Plans on Corruption Eradication developed by the National Development Planning Agency.
"The document has been on Yudhoyono's desk for months, but he has not signed it yet," he said, adding that the document was very important to provide a road map and ground strategy for the country's efforts to fight corruption.
"It will significantly help the government to be more focused and precise in terms of curbing corruption. It's important for Yudhoyono to sign and take it into full force, rather than just grumbling about corruption or playing guitar and composing songs," Emerson said.