The President also confirmed a plan to replace Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Djoko Santoso and National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri prior to their retirements in September and October, respectively, as both will turn 58.

Presidential expert staff for legal affairs Denny Indrayana earlier said that Hendarman, 62, was still the legitimate attorney general as the current law on the Attorney General’s Office did not stipulate age limitations for the attorney general.

Hendarman’s position of legitimacy has been a subject of controversy in the past few months after former justice and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra raised the issue following the AGO naming him a suspect in a graft case.

Yusril said Hendarman should have been replaced along with the 2004-2009 Cabinet ministers. But  Denny denied the suggestion, saying the attorney general was not part of the Cabinet.

“As the AGO is facing a crisis of public trust, it needs a strong, fresh figure to lead the institution,” noted lawyer and rights activist Todung Mulya Lubis told The Jakarta Post Wednesday.

“I think an outsider will be a better choice as they won’t have reluctance to carry out reforms as insiders tend to.”

Todung added that appointing an outsider could lead to strong rejection from the AGO’s inner circle.

Adnan Topan Husodo from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), despite supporting calls for an outside candidate, said it would be difficult to reform the corrupt institution without the support of the President and the House of Representatives.

“We need a person with not only high integrity, but a leader that is very powerful due to the status quo power within the AGO, which often rejects reforms agenda, is often much stronger,” he said.

He suggested the President to appoint a disqualified candidate of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief to the new attorney general position because the candidate would have already been considered eligible to pass preselection.

The selection committee for the KPK chief recently submitted two names to the President: Judicial Commission chief Busyro Muqoddas and  former chairman of the Indonesian Legal Institute Foundation (YLBHI) Bambang Widjojanto.

Former presidential adviser for legal affairs, Adnan Buyung Nasution, voiced a similar suggestion.

While the President may only submit names of candidates for the positions of National Police chief and military chief to the House, he is authorized to directly appoint an attorney general.

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