Committee chairman Abdullah Hehamahua said here on Monday it was hoped the change would convince the public of the committee`s independence.
Several quarters have recently voiced complaints about the composition of the KPK Ethics Committee which is due to investigate the alleged implication of some KPK officials in a corruption case.
They said more of the committee members should come from outside the KPK to ensure neutrality. Busyro Muqoddas and Haryono Umar are at present KPK members.
Hehamahua said "the KPK Ethics Committee will continue to seven members. Busyro and Haryono have quit in favor of external elements."
The decision was taken in a leadership meeting to make the composition of external members stronger by increasing its number to four in addition to three members from the KPK.
The other members from the external elements are Marjono Reksodiputro, a law professor from the University of Indonesia, and Sjahrudin Rasul, a law professor from Padjadjaran University.
Syafii Maarif is a former chief of the Islamic organization Muhammadiyah who had so far been very critical of the government. He is also a strong supporter of corruption eradication. Nono Makarim meanwhile is a former activist and a law expert and a Harvard University graduate.
Members from KPK include Abdullah Hehamahua as chairman of the committee, Bibit Samad Rianto, and Zaid Zainal Abidin.
The committee meanwhile is scheduled to hold its first meeting on August 4 with the agenda of identifying, making an inventory of problems and setting a time table for the investigation.
Former ruling Democrat Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, a corruption suspect now on the run abroad, had said from his hiding out that he had ever held meetings with KPK deputy Chandra M Hamzah, KPK enforcement deputy Ade Rahardja, KPK spokesman Johan Budi and had also told about KPK deputy M Jasin with regard to his case.
Hehamahua who is a member of the advisory board for KPK said all the moves were taken to addres Nazaruddin`s statement with regard to verifying its truth. He hoped the public would not react overly towards Nazaruddin`s statement as the truth of the statement was not yet confirmed.
(T.V002/H-YH/HAJM/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
