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KPK becomes perfectly weak: Anticorruption activists
House of Representatives' Commission III chairman Aziz Syamsuddin (center), accompanied by the commission's deputy chairmen, conducts a hearing during the election of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioners in Jakarta on Nov
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House of Representatives' Commission III chairman Aziz Syamsuddin (center), accompanied by the commission's deputy chairmen, conducts a hearing during the election of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioners in Jakarta on Nov. 30. (Antara/Hafidz Mubarak A) (center), accompanied by the commission's deputy chairmen, conducts a hearing during the election of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioners in Jakarta on Nov. 30. (Antara/Hafidz Mubarak A)
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span class="inline inline-center">House of Representatives' Commission III chairman Aziz Syamsuddin (center), accompanied by the commission's deputy chairmen, conducts a hearing during the election of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioners in Jakarta on Nov. 30. (Antara/Hafidz Mubarak A)
Anticorruption activists have expressed strong disappointment over the election of five new commissioners of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) by House of Representatives Commission III, saying lawmakers made the anticorruption body very weak.
They said lawmakers had overlooked figures with good track records in fighting corruption, such as acting KPK commissioner Johan Budi and incumbent Busyro Muqqodas during the election on Thursday.
Setara Institute chairman Hendardi said the five new KPK commissioners would not help in efforts to eradicate corruption.
"The elected KPK commissioners did not give convincing responses during their screening. Therefore, the corruption eradication outlook is heading toward a dark era,' Hendardi said in a statement on Thursday evening.
House Commission III elected five new commissioners on Thursday, namely Agus Raharjo, former manager of the National Procurement Agency (LKPP); Alexander Marwata, former Jakarta Corruption Court ad hoc judge; Basaria Panjaitan, police inspector general; Laode Muhammad Syarif, a law professor at the Makassar-based Hasanudin University; and Thony Saut Situmorang, an expert at the National Intelligence Agency (BIN). Later the commission named Agus the KPK chairman.
'They [newly elected KPK commissioners] lack both good track records and integrity," said Hendardi.
Meanwhile, Miko Ginting, a researcher at the Center for Policy and Law Studies (PSHK), expressed concern over the election of the KPK leadership, which he said lacked credibility. Miko questioned the commitment of the newly elected KPK commissioners in trying to empower the anticorruption body in its corruption eradication efforts.
He criticized Commission III for overlooking the figures, who have credible track records in fighting corruption. "The election of new KPK leaders should have given hope in the efforts to fight corruption, but the reality is far from expectation. The KPK leadership composition will take the KPK toward a critical state," Miko said.
Therefore, he stressed the need for critical and strong opinions from outside the anticorruption body to make sure it did not derail. 'The KPK is now in the most concerning condition,' he stressed. (bbn)
