KPK Looking For Personnel

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), is known as being one of the only institutions that the public can rely on to eradicate corruption. However, the KPK has a problem regarding its personnel numbers. This inevitably affects the KPK’s performance. Therefore, the KPK is planning to recruit new personnel during this year.
"Our initial strategic plan stated that we would have 1,000 members of staff by 2010. As of now, we only have 530. We only count the permanent staff, not the outsourced. There will be 70 additional members in 2011. The recruitment will be conducted in September 2011," said Johan Budi, a KPK Spokesperson.
Johan explained that the KPK recruitment is very competitive from the staff level to the director level. First, psychological tests for the potential candidates, and afterwards, English proficiency tests by an independent team. The team will be appointed by means of a bidding process.
After this, the candidates will be interviewed by every supervisor in each department. If the candidates pass the tests, they will then be investigated by the KPK, without any knowledge on their part. The whole process also applies for investigator and prosecutor candidates that are recommended by other institutions. "It takes three months for the whole process," Johan said.
KPK personnel that is assigned from other institutions can only work for two terms, for a total of four years. After that, they will be asked whether they want to stay at the KPK or return to their former institution. "There will be no more tests if they decide to stay with the KPK," Johan added.
Personnel from other institutions can resign from the KPK before the end of the two years term. Similarly the KPK can send them back if they are considered unfit for the KPK.
KPK requires 20 individuals for investigator positions. The National Police provides around 50 potential candidates. However, less than 20 typically pass the KPK tests.
Emerson Yuntho, Deputy Coordinator of Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), appraised the new recruitment by the KPK. However, he said that the KPK should be more aware of troublesome personnel. He said that the investigation department needs more manpower. "We should consider independent investigators," Emerson said. Since KPK investigators, until recently, have been coming from the National Police and the Prosecutor Office.

Strict Supervision
Emerson also said that KPK internal supervision is not strong enough. Even though the salary at the KPK is more than sufficient, this does not mean that the personnel will be problem-free. Moreover, the salary could be used as a benchmark for demanding bribes.
"For instance, the case of Suparman several years back. Consequently the KPK needs to strengthen its internal supervision. For instance, the KPK should consider publishing every sanction that is given to troublesome staff," Emerson added.
Johan promised to implement this recommendation. "It could be our introspection for the future," he added.
Johan explained that the KPK internal supervisors have the authority to supervise KPK personnel in every department. The problematic ones facing the Personnel Board, consisting of a superior, secretariat and staff fulfilling the internal supervision function.
The sanctions vary. They could be in oral or written form, demotion, return to the original institution, or dismissal. On the other hand, if the problems are discovered at the leadership level, there will be a special team from KPK outsiders, KPK advisors, and KPK leadership that is not involved in the problems.