The House of Representatives Commission III overseeing law and human rights lambasted on Wednesday Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chairman Busyro Muqqodas over his past statements toward corruption suspects, who have in many cases come from the House.

In the first session of the screening process to decide on a new KPK commissioner at the House, lawmakers expressed complaints about statements by KPK leaders, including Busyro, over corruption cases that allegedly involved politicians, which, according to lawmakers, had unfairly promoted negative judgments against them prior to court proceedings.

Muslim Ayub from the National Mandate Party (PAN), for example, criticized Busyro over the latter'€™s statements related to graft centering on the Wisma Atlet SEA Games in Jakabaring and the South Sumatra Function Hall, saying that the KPK would name two lawmakers as new suspects.

'€œYou should avoid making political statements related to lawmakers, as well as cases that the KPK is still handling, in public,'€ Muslim said.

Other Commission III members followed suit, asking Busyro whether or not lawmakers would remain his targets should he be reelected deputy chairman of the antigraft body.

Busyro, who will see his term end this month, was appointed as KPK chairman in 2010 to replace Antasari Azhar who was implicated in a murder case.

The academician from Yogyakarta-based Indonesian Islamic University (UII) later served as deputy chairman after the House selected new leaders of the KPK in 2011.

To secure his second term, Busyro is currently in the final stage of selection, which places him against another candidate, Roby Arya Brata, an academic and former Cabinet Secretariat staff member who served during former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono'€™s administration.

Besides his public statements, several lawmakers also besieged Busyro on Wednesday with disappointment over the extensive publicity of individuals who were named suspects by the KPK.

Al Muzzammil Yusuf of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) questioned Busyro about whether such a move was intentional as the KPK had secured widespread support from the public.

'€œIs it not enough for you to enforce the law without publicly embarrassing alleged suspects through extensive publications? Is public pressure needed?'€ asked Muzzammil.

Since 2007, the KPK recorded that 74 lawmakers had been named suspects in various corruption cases while many more had been summoned as witnesses.

As the vanguard of the corruption fight in the country, KPK investigations have received attention from the public and overwhelming support from citizens.

On the other hand, KPK leaders, including Busyro, often find themselves in strained relationships with politicians due to their stern approach to corrupt officials.

Responding to the lawmakers, Busyro gave his assurances that the KPK worked independently and would reveal information as part of its obligation to fulfill the public'€™s right to the truth.

'€œThe media, as an element of civil society, is the agent for spreading information. Thus reporters deserve to have our explanations in relation to any cases that concern the public,'€ said Busyro, hinting that he would uphold such activities if his term was extended.

While still holding another interview with Roby, the other contender, on Thursday, the majority of elites from House factions have expressed objections against Busyro'€™s '€œrevealing it all to the public'€ style despite praise for his performance.

Commission III deputy chairman Desmond Junaidi Mahesa from the Gerindra Party said, '€œI like the way he [Busyro] leads but I don'€™t like his political statements [about suspects] in public'€.

House Commission III is expected to immediately hold a meeting to present the political stance of each of its 10 factions as soon as lawmakers complete the screening process test on Thursday.

Commission III may have to hold a voting session to choose one of the two finalists should the meeting fail to reach a decision.

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