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classified document directed to the House of Representatives reveals that at least one-third of 33 ambassador candidates selected by President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo are political appointees.

The document, which started circulating late Friday, shows that at least 13 of the 33 ambassadorial posts were given to political allies and figures from groups who were believed to have supported him in last year'€™s presidential election.

Many have raised concerns over the political nature of the appointments.

'€œWhat we learned from the list is that there are too many people from political parties who are affiliated with the ruling party '€” so it'€™s very much a power-sharing gesture,'€ House of Representatives deputy speaker Fadli Zon told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Although he acknowledged that the appointment of ambassadors remained the prerogative of the President, Fadli said Jokowi should seriously consider the competence of the individuals in question, especially some of the political appointees.

Fadli, a politician from the Gerindra Party, said some of the candidates were underqualified for the job.

'€œPak Jokowi wants our embassies to be at the forefront, marketing our country '€” but are these people the right fit?'€ he said. '€œ[Ambassadors] are sent abroad not only to look after Indonesian visitors abroad but also to fight for our nation'€™s interests.'€

Among the individuals on the list are Helmy Fauzi, Maj. Gen. (ret.) M. Luthfie Wittoeng and Amelia Ahmad Yani. Helmy is a former House lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and member of Jokowi'€™s selection team, while Luthfie is a former Marine and politician from the National Awakening Party (PKB), which is a member of the ruling coalition.

Amelia, meanwhile, is the daughter of national hero Gen. Achmad Yani and chairwoman of the National People'€™s Concern Party (PPRN), which many consider an ally of the PDI-P. Helmy has been assigned to the ambassadorial post in Egypt, while Luthfie and Amelia are to be posted in Venezuela and Bosnia-Herzegovina, respectively.

Jokowi has also appointed former PKB lawmaker and member of Nadhlatul Ulama'€™s (NU) women'€™s wing, Safirah Machrusah, as well as Rizal Sukma, executive director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and member of Muhammadiyah'€™s central executive board. Both religious organizations represent the bulk of the Muslim population in Indonesia.

There are also a number of non political appointees on the list, including Diennaryati Tjokrosuprihatono, a former adviser to the education minister; HA Maftuh Abegebriel, a terrorism expert; and critically acclaimed painter Sri Astari Rasjid.

Senior political analyst from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Syamsuddin Haris, called on Jokowi to make a public statement regarding the nomination of individuals for the ambassadorial posts.

'€œThe rules that govern ambassadorial appointees [are obsolete]; we have to be more transparent and professional going forward because ambassadors represent the nation,'€ Syamsuddin told the Post on Saturday.

Syamsuddin proposed the setting up of a selection committee for ambassadors akin to the selection team for commissioners of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the General Elections Commission (KPU).

On Friday, State Secretary Pratikno confirmed the President had sent the letter with the list of candidates just before the House went to recess on July 6. This was previously confirmed by House Commission I deputy chairman Tantowi Yahya late last month.

Fadli has been careful not to confirm that the leaked document is the same as what Jokowi sent to the House. '€œWe received the letter at the end of the previous sitting session, and we'€™ll definitely make a decision in the next session come July 14,'€ Fadli said.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi declined to confirm the authenticity of the circulating document.

When contacted by the Post for confirmation, neither Rizal, Octavino Alimuddin nor Yuri Thamrin '€” all candidates on the list '€” denied they had been nominated for ambassadorial posts.

Yuri, who is the Foreign Ministry'€™s director-general for the Asia-Pacific region and Africa, previously said that screenings for ambassadorial candidates would be held in September.

Candidates who pass the screenings at the House will then undergo orientation while awaiting accreditation by the host country, all of which requires four to six months before they arrive at their respective posts.