Favorite Candidate Failed in Race for Anti-graft Chief Post
Friday, 27 August, 2010 | 15:05 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Selection committee for the New chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission picked Busyro Muqqodas chairman of the Judiciary Commission and Bambang Widjojanto reformist lawyer and pro democracy activist as the best two candidates to continue the race for the post, surprisingly leaving out the highly-regarded candidate Jimly Asshiddiqie and sparking speculation that the governemnt is plotting the less imposing figure like Busyro to lead the anti-graft body.

Patrialis said Jimly was eliminated due to his own gaffe during the interview that he will not take a second position to the top post, or the Vice Chairman of the commission if he managed to move to the next stage, the parliamentary selection.

A lawmaker from Golkar Party Bambang Susatyo reacted to the options saying the government will probably throw its support behind Busyro Muqoddas "because the government thinks Bambang is likely to face strong resistance at the parlaiment."

Bambang Susatyo one of the most outspoken opposition to the ruling government in Bank Century case said the law commission will demand the candidates to sign a pact of commitment to complete the Century bail out case. "The LAw Commission will pick a chairman that is ready to put his life at stake. It could be Bambang Widjojanto if he trully is more courageous than Busyro. Because Busyro could be defecting to the government.

Bambang Widjojanto himself had spoken against the bail out in the past.

Other lawmaker from the Indonesia Democratic Party for Struggle Gayus Lumbuun said the parliament have the right to reject both candidates.

The selection committe according to one of its members Todung Mulya Lubis of the Transparency International Indonesia also decided to propose a full term service of four years for the new chairman, not one year as proposed earlier to continue the remaining term of the second chairman Antasari Azhar which was sacked from the job for murder.

The names had been handed over to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who will nominated them to the house.


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