Jakarta – The House of Representatives passed two bills Tuesday, ratifying a United Nations convention on corruption and a bilateral agreement on transnational crimes with China.

During a plenary session led by House deputy speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, all 10 House factions agreed on the need to ratify the 2003 United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

Lawmakers said the bill was necessary because successive reform-era governments had not recovered most of the public money stolen in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis.

The bill provides the legal basis for the government to seek international cooperation to fight graft and recover state assets. At the meeting, the House also passed a bill approving a bilateral agreement on transnational crimes with China, a top destination for Indonesian graft fugitives.

"The crime of corruption cannot only be settled on a national level, we need to cooperate with other countries," said Andreas Parera, of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, as quoted by Antara.

Speaking for the government, Justice and Human Rights Minister Hamid Awaluddin said the passing of the two bills represented a breakthrough in the fight against graft.

"These bills ease international cooperation in combating corruption and other transnational crimes. We now have a legal framework from the investigation phase to a court trial, and we can more easily recover state property taken by graft criminals," Hamid said.

The bilateral agreement with China will allow prosecutors and police forces from the two countries to share evidence gathered on criminals and repatriate the proceeds from crimes.

When Hamid had finished his speech, legislator Anas Yahya of the National Awakening Party interrupted the session.

Anas said all legislators being investigated in connection with corruption at the General Elections Commission (KPU) should not be allowed to speak in House sessions about graft.

Hamid, a former KPU member, has been questioned by Corruption Eradication Commission investigators over graft in the commission committed during the 2004 elections. Investigators have not named Hamid a suspect. Soetardjo said he would consider the suggestion.