Alfian, Jakarta – The selection of a government prosecutor to lead the much-anticipated anti-corruption commission has seen a law expert say close supervision of the commission's performance would be required.
"Tight supervision will hamper anyone attempting to violate the rules," Saldi Isra of West Sumatra's Andalas University told The Jakarta Post.
He said the public should monitor to what extent the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), under the leadership of Antasari Azhar, was committed to maintaining the agency's internal regulations.
He said the commission's existing regulations were strong enough to prevent KPK members committing graft. "We should be aware of efforts aimed at annihilating internal regulations that prohibit KPK officials to accept anything from anyone," Saldi said.
The government and the House has drawn criticism with the selection of Antasari to head up KPK. The former government prosecutor was found responsible in at least two corruption cases.
But Antasari secured major votes from the House of Representatives' legal and domestic political affairs commission on Wednesday evening. He is incumbent director for prosecution at the office of Deputy Attorney General for general crimes.
Former director for corruption prosecution at the Attorney General's Office, Chairul Imam, said Antasari was fit for the post. "He will be a highly skilled leader in KPK," Imam said.
The AGO prosecution director was once Antasari's direct supervisor for some 12 months. Despite the negative response Antasari's appointment has received, Imam said "he is a good guy".
"I once asked him about a rumor he (received as a gift) a house in Pondok Indah from (son of former president Soeharto) Tommy Soeharto, but he denied (this)," Imam said. "I believed him because he did not live in luxury."
But Saldi said the KPK selection process that has seen Antasari become the commission's new chief was full of political motives.
He further said the process had been used by lawmakers to secure party interests. "They chose the easiest candidates to deal with," said Saldi.
The commission members, Saldi said, very obviously demonstrated support for the candidate they liked and disregarded the candidate they did not.
"They bombarded (outgoing KPK member) Amin Sunaryadi with tough questions, while they did not seem interested to seek Antasari's confirmation of some cases that allegedly implicated him," Saldi said. "The commission even gave a big applause to Antasari," he said.
Todung Mulya Lubis, executive chairman of Transparency International Indonesia, also said the House had selected candidates who were ready to support questionable authorities, instead of those with integrity.
He warned the new KPK leadership not to violate its regulations. "If they do so, I will not hesitate to punch them," Todung said.