Susan Sim, Jakarta – Opposition politicians with no skeletons in their closets need not fear the new Attorney-General.

Endorsing his successor for his legal scruples, former A-G Marzuki Darusman told The Straits Times yesterday that despite rumours that arrest orders had been issued for certain allegedly corrupt politicians, Mr Baharuddin had not yet been given any specific targets to pursue by President Abdurrahman Wahid.

"Lopa told me on Wednesday that he had no special instructions from the President. But while the President may not have said so, he does expect Lopa to act if instructed.

"But I don't think Lopa is going to allow himself to be used if there is no strong legal basis. He doesn"t play politics." Besides, Mr Marzuki said he left his successor several cases against former Suharto cronies to bring to court within the next two weeks. And no, he was not concerned that Mr Baharuddin might get credit for work that he did.

"Lopa also faces the risk that the courts might acquit these men, that he might not be able to deliver the results. Then he'll have to go after the judges, but that's not his job anymore," he said, laughing. As justice minister, Mr Baharuddin sanctioned 12 judges in the last two months for abusing their powers.

The new A-G lost no time in announcing yesterday that he had ordered the pursuit of tycoon Syamsul Nursalim, accused of misusing billions in state bank credits, to ensure his return for trial. Allowed by Mr Marzuki to leave Jakarta last month for medical treatment in Tokyo, there is now concern that Mr Syamsul might flee instead.

Mr Baharuddin said yesterday that he had sent a telegram to Indonesian diplomats in Japan asking them to check if Mr Syamsul is indeed in hospital. "If we can't find Syamsul Nursalim there, we will declare him a fugitive. If he's found, we will send people to Japan to fetch him," he declared.

He was also launching probes into seven other cases, but declined to name suspects lest they should flee the country. "Every case must be completed. We can't leave cases unresolved," said the man known here as Indonesia's Mr Untouchable for his incorruptibility and persistence.