House to set criteria of KPU membership

JAKARTA (JP): The empowered House of Representatives played down on Monday objections raised by several non-governmental organizations on the nomination of 22 public figures to the new General Elections Commission (KPU).

Deputy chairman of the House's Commission II for domestic and legal affairs Ferry Mursyidan Baldan told reporters, after receiving the group of NGO activists, the legislative body would set its own criteria for selecting the KPU members.

"They (the NGOs) seem to dictate us. We have our own criteria to decide whether the candidates are eligible for the posts," Ferry of Golkar party said.

However, he failed to elaborate, saying the House commission had not discussed the qualifications for the members yet.

However he promised that the House would complete selecting the 11 members of the KPU before its current sitting period closes at the end of this year.

"The selection of the KPU members and the Supreme Court chief will be completed this year," Ferry said.

Last month, the government submitted to the House 22 candidates to fill 11 seats in the KPU. Among the nominees were Anas Urbaningrum, former chairman of the Indonesian Islamic Student Association (HMI); the Independent Election Supervisory Committee (KIPP) secretary general Mulyana W. Kusumah; Catholic priest and intellectual Mudji Sutrisno; chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) Hendardi; and chairman of the National Youth Committee (KNPI) Adhyaksa.

During Monday's hearing, the NGO activists, representing among others, the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP); the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro); the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW); and the Environmental Forum (Walhi), accused the government of not being transparent in selecting the candidates by not involving the public's participation.

They also questioned the capability and unclear visions of the candidates.

"The House must not repeat the mistake in selecting the members," Hadar Gumay of Cetro told the House members.

He suggested that the House announce the criteria and the selection procedures and invite public participation.

The candidates should be university graduates, passed medical and psychological tests and have no affiliation to any political groupings, he proposed.

"The candidates should write an essay and undergo an interview. The House can then assess them and announce the score to the public," Hadar said. (jun)