Ulma Haryanto – Antigraft heavyweights like money laundering watchdog chief Yunus Hussein and human rights activist Bambang Widjojanto are among those who have thrown their hats in the ring to become an antigraft commissioner through 2014.
After registrations officially closed on Monday, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Patrialis Akbar said 233 people had applied.
"The KPK [Corruption Eradication Commission] selection committee will select eight names [for four positions]. We will then forward these names to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the House of Representatives," Patrialis said.
The KPK leadership board consists of one chairman and four deputy chairmen. The Constitutional Court on Monday decided that Busyro Muqoddas could serve a full four-year term on the leadership board of the KPK, meaning there are four vacancies to be filled.
Busyro was selected as the KPK chairman by the House of Representatives in November, but he was only granted one year to complete the four-year term of his predecessor, Antasari Azhar, who was jailed for murder.
However, activists filed a legal motion arguing that Busyro should stay on for more than just one year. Monday's court decision does not mean Busyro will automatically remain chairman.
Among those who applied just before the registration period closed on Monday were a number of KPK officials: spokesman Johan Budi, prosecutions deputy Ade Rahardja, deputy chairman Chandra M. Hamzah and deputy director of internal oversight and public complaints Sudrajat Handoyo.
Bambang, who finished second behind Busyro during last year's election for KPK chairman, said he felt a need to register for the position.
"Life is full of challenges. This nation has terrible corruption cases. That is why any chance to do something good for a lot of people has to be seized upon," Bambang said.
Like Bambang, Yunus said he believed that a job at the KPK was his calling. "Motivation is very important because it determines whether we can achieve what we aim for. Corruption is related with power, so first we have to understand the political landscape. We can defeat any graft networks if we work together," Yunus said. He added that his nine-year stint at the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) would end in October.
When asked whether he feared becoming the target of criminal accusations by opponents – as happened to former antigraft chief Antasari, Chandra and his fellow KPK deputy Bibit Samad Rianto – Yunus said: "The righteous have to be brave, but it is also human to be afraid."
He said he believed that his experience in handling suspicious financial transactions at the PPATK would come in handy at the KPK. "The 'follow the money' approach is needed, particularly in handling corruption cases. The KPK is also handling money laundering, so the job is related," Yunus said.
There is still a long way to go before it will be known who made the cut. On Saturday, the KPK selection committee, led by Patrialis, will announce the names of those candidates who met all the administrative requirements.
From June 27 to July 27, members of the public will have the chance to comment. Based on that feedback, the committee will pick two names for each open position and hand them to the president. If Yudhoyono approves the candidates, he will forward their names to the House, which has from August to November to pick four names. The president still has the final say and will have to ratify the four choices of the House. He is expected to do so in December.
Chandra said he was not happy with the current leadership board, of which he is a member. "I'm not satisfied at all. There is a lot that needs improvement. Whoever ends up being elected, we have to improve [the KPK]," he said.
Johan, the KPK spokesman, said one reason he registered was that the number of applicants was not as high as in previous years. "I have personal concerns, and I want to oversee the selection process," he said.