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Fewer candidates vying for next KPK leadership slate
As of Thursday afternoon, Pansel recorded 348 applicants had submitted forms to the selection committee. Most were lawyers, academics and business people, as well as employees of state-owned enterprises.
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Scrutinizing team: Yenti Ganarsih (fourth left), who heads a committee to select leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), walks with fellow committee members after meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday. The President said he hoped the committee would be able to carry out its task of selecting KPK leaders with good records for managerial skills and integrity. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari )
T
he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is undoubtedly the chief law enforcement institution for combating the rampant corruption in the country, yet it is drawing fewer leadership candidates this year than before.
The KPK's leadership selection team (Pansel) closed off registration for new candidates on Thursday after receiving applications from 348 people from various backgrounds, most of whom are lawyers and academics.
The figure is down by more than 50 percent from the previous selection in 2015, which had 661 individuals submitting application letters, but still above the 2011 figure when only 142 candidates applied. Earlier in 2007, 624 candidates sought posts.
“The KPK leadership has to include law enforcement officials, representatives of the government and civil society. Apart from that, they have to be competent to understand criminal law and the 2001 Corruption Law, as well as matters of the state budget,” said Pansel head Yenti Ganarsih.
Apart from the fluctuating numbers of applicants, the selection committee also saw the same old problem of the candidates’ inability to comply with the regulation for meeting the deadline for submitting their wealth reports (LHKPN).
“Submitting LHKPN is an obligation for police personnel and civil servants vying for KPK leadership posts; they sometimes fail to submit the reports on time […] So, it shows their lack of obedience to the law,” Yenti said.
She said the committee would consider dropping candidates who failed to submit LHKPN based on the committee’s regulation, although there are no legal sanctions against anyone failing to comply with the regulation.
