Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Amid escalating friction between the two state institutions, the House of Representatives said it would suspend the selection process for the eight Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) candidates.

Deputy chairman of the House's Commission III on law Aziz Samsuddin said the commission leadership had decided to suspend the fit and proper test scheduled for next week until the government managed to submit 10 nominees as stipulated by law.

The commission, he said, would also hold an internal plenary session on Monday to decide on whether to return the eight names or ask the government to send two more names. "The fit and proper test was suspended because most factions reject the eight names and only the United Development Party (PPP) accepted them," he said.

Aziz, a Golkar Party legislator, said his commission had also raised objection to the eight names listed on a rank basis. "The law requires the government submit 10 names which will be selected to be five and the names must not be put in ranking because it could suggest we take the first five candidates," he said.

Commission chairman Benny Kabur Harman concurred, saying that the selection was waiting for the commission's decision on the eight candidates and its consultation meeting with Minister of Justice and Human Rights Patrialis Akbar, who chaired the government's selection committee. "There is still enough time for the selection committee to propose two additional names," he said.

Benny and Aziz said the Constitutional Court's ruling, which stated Busyro should act for a term of four years as KPK leader, would not be applied retroactively. They said they could select five candidates if the government submitted 10 names and one of the selected five would be reserved to replace Busyro in 2014.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has submitted eight candidates, identified as Bambang Widjojanto, Yunus Husein, Abdullah Hehamahua, Handoyo Sudradjat, Abraham Samad, Zulkarnain, Adnan Pandu Praja and Aryanto Sutadi.

Critics said the eight candidates drew negative reactions from the House because many factions disliked Bambang and Yunus, who were reportedly seen as threats to several political parties in the future.

Busyro had previously said that in order to avoid unnecessary politicking the selection of KPK leaders should no longer involve the House. In the future, he said, the selection process should be conducted by an independent body.

House Speaker Marzuki Alie appreciated the proposal, but added that it would require an amendment to the 2002 KPK law. "The law can be reviewed. All things can change," he said, adding that only the Koran, the Holy Bible and the Pancasila preamble cannot be revised.

Marzuki, who once called for the KPK's liquidation if no credible candidates were available to lead the commission, stressed that the key to success in the selection of the KPK chief was in the hands of the government's selection committee and not the House.

"If the selection committee chooses candidates with high credibility, integrity, capability and independence, whomever is chosen by the House will certainly be the best," he said, adding that resolving the selection process among the eight candidates was up to the law commission.

The frequency of alleged attacks by legislators against the KPK have reportedly been mounting following the recent questioning of House budget committee leaders during an investigation into bribery and corruption at the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry.

Fahri Hamzah, another deputy chairman of the law commission from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), called for the disbandment of the KPK.