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ouse of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs has shown marked favoritism for Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leader candidates deemed less combative and more likely to strive for good relations with the House, the Attorney General'€™s Office (AGO) and the National Police.

On the second day of candidate screenings on Tuesday, Commission III, a number of former members of which have been arrested by the KPK, described the antigraft body'€™s prosecution of lawmakers under the leadership of Abraham Samad between 2011 and 2015 as an '€œarrogant'€ attempt to garner public support.

Commission III deputy chairman Benny K. Harman of the Democratic Party, whose former chairman Anas Urbaningrum was imprisoned by the KPK for bribery, applauded KPK commissioner candidate and public lawyer Surya Tjandra for his plan to promote '€œharmony'€ between the AGO, the police and the House.

'€œAs a result of KPK arrogance, every political party has had at least one member prosecuted. I very much appreciate your idea of transforming the KPK into a body able to build synergy between law enforcement institutions,'€ Benny said.

Surya further said that in order not to lose hard-won public and media support, he would ensure the KPK was careful in its prosecutions.

The KPK, he said, could work with the police, the AGO and other law enforcers to bolster efforts to eradicate graft, adding that if elected as KPK commissioner he would speak less to the media to avoid '€œtrial by press'€.

The other candidates questioned on Tuesday were Cabinet Secretariat international relations division head Robby Arya Brata, Brig. Gen. Basaria Panjaitan of the National Police and former National Procurement Agency (LKPP) head Agus Rahardjo.

On Wednesday, Commission III plans to grill former KPK commissioner Busyro Muqoddas and Hasanudin University school of law lecturer Laode Muhamad Syarif.

Busyro and Robby were screened as commissioner candidates last year by the 2009-2014 batch of lawmakers, but Commission III decided to re-invite them to be screened for the current vacancies.

Robby accepted the invitation, but Busyro declined.

'€œIf [Busyro] does not show up on Wednesday we will automatically drop him from the list. His chance will be gone,'€ Commission III member Junimart Girsang said on Tuesday.

Busyro meanwhile claimed undergoing a second screening would run contrary to the law.

'€œIf I follow a process that compromises my integrity then I am submitting to a flawed process, and I will do no such thing,'€ he said.

In the screenings, Commission III has been openly hostile toward the pair seen as the two best candidates, namely acting KPK deputy chairman Johan Budi and KPK education and public service director Sujanarko.

Meanwhile, Commission III lawmakers on Monday lobbed softball questions at controversial candidates such as Jakarta Corruption Court ad hoc judge Alexander Marwata, who has gained a reputation for contrariness, including calling for the acquittal of defendants in graft trials.

The House on Tuesday also moved to weaken the KPK by including an amendment to the KPK Law as a priority bill to be completed during this year'€™s last sitting session.

The House, with the amendment, seeks to establish a supervisory body to watch the KPK; to grant the KPK the unusual authority to issue investigation termination warrants; to prohibit the KPK from recruiting independent investigators; and to add more bureaucratic requirements for the KPK to engage in wiretapping.
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