Calibre of candidates to head graft watchdog a hopeful sign

Indonesia's corruption watchdog has been given a potential new lease on life after the initial selection process for its new chairman produced some credible candidates.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been partly rudderless since its chairman, Antasari Azhar, was sentenced to jail earlier this year for his role in the murder of a businessman.

The selection process for his replacement started last month with the establishment of a nine-member committee tasked to select two candidates to propose to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono by August. The president will then endorse the names for the House of Representatives, which is expected to reach a decision by November.

Among the 300 hopefuls are former Constitutional Court chief Jimly Asshiddiqie and Judicial Commission chairman Busyro Muqoddas.

Adnan Topan Husodo, vice-co-ordinator of Indonesia Corruption Watch, said their inclusion was just what the KPK needed.

'Jimly can build a strong team and he is respected by the people. That's what the KPK needs, to regain respect. Busyro is also highly competent,' he said.

Jimly is an Islamic-law expert who campaigned for the creation of the Constitutional Court and then became its first chief justice in 2003. He generally won credit for institu- tionalising the court's impartiality. He resigned in 2008, and is currently an adviser to Yudhoyono.