Big parties determined to save Akbar<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Just three days before the House of Representatives (DPR) decides
\nwhether or not it will set up a committee of inquiry, major
\nparties appeared determined on Friday to save House Speaker Akbar
\nTandjung, backing away from their earlier demands for an
\ninvestigation into corruption allegations against the Golkar
\nchairman.<\/p>\n
Secretary General of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) Soetjipto said on Friday that his party
\nwould thwart any attempt to set up an inquiry team to investigate
\nAkbar.<\/p>\n
\"The legal process is the appropriate way for resolving
\nAkbar's case. That is why PDI Perjuangan is of the opinion that a
\nHouse inquiry team is better off being avoided,\" Soetjipto was
\nquoted by Antara as saying after a meeting with the Indonesian
\ncommunity in Cairo, Egypt.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan is the biggest faction in the House with 153
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Crescent Star Party (PBB) legislator Mawardi Abdullah said
\nthere was no urgent need to form an inquiry team as the role
\ncould be handled by House Commissions II and III.<\/p>\n
\"House Commissions II and III should form a joint team to
\nmonitor the legal processing of Akbar's case from the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office up to the court,\" he said on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"In that way, politically the House does not have to form an
\ninquiry team to investigate the so-called Buloggate II scandal so
\nthat our attention can continue to be focused on other issues,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Tosari Wijaya, a legislator from the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), said on Friday that the decision on
\nwhether or not the House would form an inquiry team to
\ninvestigate Akbar will still be discussed by the House Steering
\nCommittee.<\/p>\n
\"The plenary meeting of the House on Monday will only discuss
\nwhether or not there is a need to set up an inquiry team (to
\ninvestigate Akbar). The final decision will be taken at another
\nplenary meeting later after the issue has been discussed by the
\nHouse Steering Committee,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The parties' change of mind would appear to be a betrayal of
\nthe people at large who had hoped that Akbar, a suspect in a Rp
\n40 billion scandal involving the State Logistics Agency (Bulog),
\nwould face the music both in court and the House.<\/p>\n
With the major parties backing down, the legal process will
\nnow be expected to take its course. Given the country's corrupt
\njudicial system, however, Akbar stands a good chance of getting
\noff unscathed.<\/p>\n
Deputy secretary of House Golkar Party faction Yahya Zaini
\nexpressed confidence on Friday that no House inquiry team would
\never be formed to investigate Akbar, thanks to aggressive
\nlobbying efforts by Golkar legislators.<\/p>\n
\"Our legislators have so aggressively lobbied other party
\nrepresentatives and leaders ... the results have been
\nsatisfactory. It's a guarantee that no House team will be
\nestablished,\" Yahya told reporters.<\/p>\n
The guarantee, Yahya said, had been given by, among others,
\nAmien Rais, chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), which
\nis the country's fourth largest party.<\/p>\n
\"Also, the PDI Perjuangan is no longer demanding that Akbar
\nshould step down from his post as House Speaker. Instead, it has
\nasked that the case should be legally processed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to Yahya, a similar stance is being taken by the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP), the Crescent Star Party (PBB),
\nand the Indonesian Military (TNI)\/National Police faction.<\/p>\n
\"None of these parties believe that a House inquiry committee
\nis relevant anymore. Considering all this, Golkar is in a great
\nposition,\" Yahya asserted.<\/p>\n
Yahya said that there were only three parties that Golkar
\nlegislators had not been able to sway, including the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) faction, which is the third largest faction
\nafter Golkar.<\/p>\n
\"We have not been able to do so because of the PKB's internal
\nproblems. We will, however, waste no time. As soon as the special
\ncongress of the Alwi Shihab-led PKB ends in Yogyakarta, the
\nlobbying with start intensively,\" Yahya said.<\/p>\n
Soetjipto said on Friday that the House was divided on whether
\nor not Akbar should go through the legal process only or through
\na House investigation as well.<\/p>\n
\"If Akbar is interrogated by a House committee of inquiry as
\nwell, new problems will arise. This will weaken our country's
\npolitical and security situation,\" Soetjipto said.<\/p>\n
\"The general public is tired of this kind of politics. Which
\nis why, if it is possible ... (the establishment of a committee
\nof inquiry) would be better avoided.\"<\/p>",
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