Agus Rahardjo Named KPK Chief

Jakarta (Antara Megapolitan) - Agus Rahardjo was named the Chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for the 2015-2019 period on Thursday evening after he and four others were voted as the new KPK leadership members.

Agus won 44 votes from 54 members of the House of Representatives' Commission III, who used their voting rights in the second vote after first electing the new KPK leadership members.

Basaria Panjaitan garnered nine votes, Saut Situmorang one vote, Alexander Marwata and Laode Muhammad Syarif won no votes.

No one abstained from the vote that was held behind closed doors in which each commission member was only allowed to choose one candidate.

House Commission III Chairman Aziz Syamsuddin said the five members of the new KPK leadership will report before the plenary session of the House on Friday for a final decision by the House of Representatives.

House Commission III elected five members of the new KPK leadership through a vote on Thursday. Agus collected the highest votes of 54, while Basaria Panjaitan got 51, Alexamder Marwata got 46, Saut Situmorang got 37 and Laode Muhammad Syarif got 37 votes.

Acting KPK Deputy Chairman Indriyanto Seno Adji said in a text message received on Thursday that he believes the new leadership could preserve the good reputation of the anti-graft agency.

"We believe that the new leadership could preserve the KPK's honor," he stated.

Two internal candidates from the current KPK Johan Budi Sapto Prabowo and Sujanarko only won 25 and 3 votes, respectively.

Indriyanto said, "We do not see any hurdle hampering the selection of candidates (from within the current KPK) and let us give them an opportunity to do something for the state and nation."

KPK Deputy Chief for 2010 to 2015, Adnan Pandu Praja said he believes the KPK system would work for whoever is at the helm of it.

"The current KPK system has been good. Whoever leads it would have no problem. I also know Agus Rajardjo. So far he has been a KPK partner. Whoever will lead it he will just continue it," he said.

Johan Budi said he accepted defeat. "Frankly speaking, I was indeed happy not to be chosen. Perhaps God has given me the best way. My wife's prayers have been met because so far as acting KPK Chairman since January, I have had almost had no time for my family," he said.

He hoped the new leadership would continue to fall within the right corridor of corruption eradication.

"We respect the decision of the House Commission III and let us together support the new KPK leadership so that KPK continues to progress and will always be on the right track," he said.

Penerjemah: BESSR/A. Abdussalam.