PRESIDENT FORMS TEAM TO NOMINATE INTERIM KPK LEADERS

Jakarta, Sept. 23 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has formed a team tasked with selecting and recommending three names to be nominated as Commission of Corruption Eradication (KPK) interim chiefs.

"The presidential decree on the team's establishment has been signed. The team consists of five people, namely the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, senior lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution, Law and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalata, former KPK Chairman Taufiqurahman Ruki and legal activist Todung Mulya Lubis," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS said at a press conference at Halim Perdana Kusuma air force base, after seeing off President Yudhoyono who left for the United States, early Wednesday.

"We have seven days and must report the result to the president on October 1. Tomorrow morning, there will be the first meeting to recommend the names," Minister Widodo said.

The head of state had given full authority to the team to select names appropriate to lead the KPK temporarily that could be accepted as well as trusted by the public, Minister Widodo said.

The minister said it would not be easy to pick names for KPK leaders as they must have the people's trust.

The presidential decree was issued to follow up a Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) on the appointment of a Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) interim chief, which was earlier signed by President Yudhoyono.

A reliable source at the Presidential Palace said here on Tuesday the president signed the Perppu on Monday together with a presidential decree on the suspension of two KPK leaders, Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto.

Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M Hamzah are two KPK vice chairmen who have been named suspects for abuse of authority while KPK chairman Antasari Azhar is facing prosecution in a murder case.

The President wanted to make sure the KPK would continue to fight corruption effectively whereas he believed that the void in the KPK leadership would affect the anti-graft body's performance, according to the minister.

Minister/State Secretary Hatta Rajasa, meanwhile said, that the names of the recommended KPK chief nominees should be received on October 1 because the president wanted to be present at the swearing in ceremony of new three KPK chiefs on October 2, 2009.