House members differ in Habibie hearing row<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Legislators from two commissions in the House of
\nRepresentatives have clashed over the right to hold a hearing
\nwith \"super minister\" B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
The row, which entered its third day yesterday, pits members
\nof House Commission X for research, technology and environment
\nagainst Commission VI for industrial matters.<\/p>\n
Habibie, the minister of research and technology, was caught
\nin the squabble in his capacity as chairman of the Council for
\nthe Development of Eastern Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Tempo magazine reported in 1992 that Habibie, one of President
\nSoeharto's confidants, held at least 25 positions in the
\ngovernment, state-owned firms and non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n
The debate erupted on Tuesday after Commission X chairman
\nMarkus Wauran, known as one of \"Habibie's men\", foiled Commission
\nVI's plan to meet with Habibie on the grounds that Habibie is his
\ncommission's working partner.<\/p>\n
He had reportedly written Commission VI chairman Errie
\nSoekardja twice asking him to cancel the plan although Habibie
\nhad agreed to attend the hearing.<\/p>\n
Markus's bold move angered Commission VI members, who argued
\nthat they have the right to hold a hearing with Habibie in his
\ncapacity as council chairman, not as minister.<\/p>\n
\"Markus was pretending he was unaware that we have the right
\nto hold a meeting with Habibie in his capacity as council
\nchairman,\" said Soenarjo, a senior Commission VI member from the
\nruling Golkar party faction.<\/p>\n
Also enraged by Markus's maneuver was Oediyanto Hadi Sudarmo,
\na Commission VI member from the powerful Armed Forces faction.<\/p>\n
\"We didn't mean to trespass on Commission X's territory. In
\nthe past, Commission X members visited a factory which was our
\nworking partner and we did not even think of lodging protest,\" he
\ntold journalists.<\/p>\n
As the row continues, deputy House Speaker Ismail Hasan
\nMetareum stepped into the fray Wednesday, saying that Commission
\nVI may meet with Habibie on the condition that it has permission
\nfrom Commission X.<\/p>\n
\"The House leadership has no objection... I have recommended
\nthat Commission VI seek permission from Commission X,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But Ismail's remark only added fuel to the fire. Yesterday,
\nSoenarjo charged that the comment only proved that Ismail did not
\nknow the House rules on the particular subject.<\/p>\n
Soenarjo said that in his capacity as development council
\nchief, Habibie's working partner in the House has yet to be
\ndetermined. This means that any commission may meet with him.<\/p>\n
\"Ismail was wrong to make us seek permission from Commission
\nX. Maybe he is too old to understand the basics of the House
\nrules,\" he said. (pan)<\/p>",
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