Golkar fires legislator for being to outspoken<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The ruling Golkar party withdrew one of its most
\noutspoken legislators, Bambang Warih Koesoemo, yesterday for his
\nhabit of deviating from official lines.<\/p>\n
Moestahid Astari, the chairman of the Golkar faction at the
\nHouse of Representatives (DPR), said Golkar's executive board had
\nbeen monitoring Bambang's conduct for the last two years before
\ndeciding to fire him.<\/p>\n
\"Bambang, as a Golkar cadre, has failed to follow the
\norganization's policies,\" said Moestahid, who was accompanied by
\nGolkar deputy chairmen Abdul Gafur and Agung Laksono, in a press
\nbriefing.<\/p>\n
Moestahid declined to specify how Bambang had deviated from
\nGolkar policy.<\/p>\n
\"This decision is the result of two years of observation,\"
\nMoestahid said. \"He was not withdrawn because I as the faction
\nchairman don't like him. My predecessor Usman Hasan also assessed
\nhis conduct.\"<\/p>\n
Bambang Warih is well known for his daring efforts to expose
\nthe bad debt of textile company Kanindo Group, which is owned by
\ntycoon Robby Tjahjadi, one of Golkar's donors.<\/p>\n
When the bad debt was a burning national issue early last
\nyear, Golkar leaders defended Robby's business record and he
\nescaped legal action.<\/p>\n
Bambang claimed that Kanindo's debt was even larger than the
\nUS$620 million owed by the Golden Key Group. Golden Key's owner
\nEddy Tansil has since been sentenced to 20 years in jail for his
\ncredit scandal.<\/p>\n
Harmoko said in October that he would not withdraw any Golkar
\nmembers from the House. The Antara news agency reported yesterday
\nthat he refused to explain Bambang's dismissal and instead, asked
\nMoestahid to meet the press.<\/p>\n
Critics say that such \"recalling\" of legislators from the
\nHouse is an effective tool to keep members of Golkar and the two
\nother political parties, PDI and PPP, in check.<\/p>\n
According to Moestahid, the decision to withdraw Bambang was
\ntaken by the board of executives after it held a meeting last
\nFriday with the East Java legislative council. Bambang was the
\nGolkar representative to the House from the East Java
\nconstituency.<\/p>\n
\"The board will soon issue a decree for the withdrawal. It
\nwill then appoint his replacement and report to the President
\nSoeharto,\" Moestahid said. Soeharto is chairman of Golkar's Board
\nof Patrons. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-fires-legislator-for-being-to-outspoken-1447893297",
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