However, the move has been criticized by antigraft activists who argued that the background of some team members was not in line with the country’s corruption eradication vision.

KPK leadership under chairman Agus Rahardjo, which includes deputy chairpersons Laode Muhammad Syarif, Saut Situmorang, Basaria Panjaitan and Alexander Marwata, is set to end on Dec. 21 — four years after they were appointed.

Jokowi signed a decree on the formation of a KPK leadership selection team on Friday.

The team has been tasked with selecting candidates to lead the antigraft body and present their names to the House of Representatives. These candidates would then undergo a fit-and-proper test.

Its nine members include legal academics, law and human rights activists, as well as government officials.

Yenti Garnasih, a money laundering expert from Trisakti University, will lead the team, while former KPK commissioner and legal expert Indriyanto Seno Adji will serve as deputy chairman.

Other academics serving as selection team members are law and human rights expert Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, University of Indonesia (UI) political psychologist Hamdi Muluk and legal expert Marcus Priyo Gunarto from Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

“We will ensure that the State Palace changes the lineup immediately. If necessary, we will file a lawsuit to the state administrative court.”

The two activists of the team are rights advocacy group Setara Institute chairman Hendardi and human rights watchdog Imparsial director Al Araf, while the remaining two members are National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) expert staff member Diani Sadia Wati and Law and Human Rights Ministry director general for human rights Mualimin Abdi.

Three of the nine, namely Yenti, Harkristuti and Diani, previously served in the all-women committee tasked with selecting KPK commissioners in 2015.

While appreciating the President for establishing the new team without delay, antigraft activists have criticized its lineup, arguing that the nine members served Jokowi’s interests more than the country’s corruption eradication campaign.

“Some of the team members are known for having connections with the National Police, who look like they’re trying to maintain control of [the KPK],” a coalition of civil society organizations said in a recent statement.

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) coordinator Adnan Topan Husodo added that the current lineup was even less suited for the job of selecting new KPK leaders than the 2015 team.

“We will ensure that the State Palace changes the lineup immediately. If necessary, we will file a lawsuit to the state administrative court,” he said.

However, Yenti dismissed the criticism.

“We will work independently to fulfill our duty, which is to select KPK leaders who are just as good or even better,” she said on Monday.

Though Jokowi signed the decree on Friday, the team began working on Monday, when they were summoned to the State Palace to receive a copy of the decree.

It also held its first meeting on Monday, after which it announced it would be accepting applications between June 17 and July 4.

“Every part of the selection process will be conducted transparently. We will also create a website that will accept suggestions and comments regarding applicants,” Yenti said.

Harkristuti added that the selection team choose candidates based on their competency, integrity and ability to think out of the box, especially on measures to eradicate corruption once and for all.

“If necessary, we will send letters to various institutions advising them to allow their best employees or members to apply for the position,” she said.

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