House members wrestle to push out Akbar<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Leaders of the factions at the House of Representatives (DPR)
\nsaid on Tuesday that legislators have the right to propose the
\ndismissal of Akbar Tandjung from his position as House speaker.<\/p>\n
\"I think House members know of the mechanism to discuss this
\nissue (Akbar's dismissal). They can, for example, collect
\nsignatures of support from legislators,\" chairman of Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction Roy B.B.
\nJanis said, after attending a meeting of House leaders here.<\/p>\n
Roy admitted that his faction, the most influential House
\nfaction with 153 seats, had discussed this matter, but there was
\nno talk of putting it into effect.<\/p>\n
Secretary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction Amin
\nSaid Husni shared Roy's remarks, saying that Akbar's dismissal
\nhad been a hot topic among PKB members.<\/p>\n
Deputy House speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno said on Tuesday
\nhe was ready to take the top legislative post from Akbar if the
\nGolkar chairman was removed from his House post.<\/p>\n
The statement of Soetardjo, a senior politician of PDI
\nPerjuangan, underscored the political maneuvering performed by
\nlegislators in recent days.<\/p>\n
\"I have carried out the duties of House speaker both when
\nAkbar went on pilgrimage last month and after his detention on
\nThursday,\" Soetardjo said, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Amien Rais also
\nsuggested on Tuesday that Akbar's removal should be discussed
\namong leaders of the factions and the legislators.<\/p>\n
\"It's true that there is no legal reason to ask for his
\nresignation. But, if the reason is morality, the result will be
\ndifferent,\" Amien said, referring to the insistence by certain
\nlegislators that Akbar retains his position.<\/p>\n
Assembly Decree No. VIII\/2001 on the guidelines for the
\neradication of corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) says that
\nany state official suspected of corruption has to receive
\nadministrative punishment.<\/p>\n
But, there is little explanation on the forms of penalty.<\/p>\n
Many legislators have expressed concern over the fact that the
\nHouse, which is supposed to be respected by the public, was
\ncurrently led by a detainee.<\/p>\n
For various reasons, legislators have proposed the replacement
\nof Akbar, who is a suspect in the misuse of Rp 40 billion
\nbelonging to the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).<\/p>\n
Many legislators have asked for Akbar's replacement for
\nfunctional reasons, but others have said that Akbar must be
\ndismissed because he had lied to the public.<\/p>\n
The money was previously claimed to have been spent to finance
\n1.7 million food packages for poor families in about 1,500
\nsubdistricts in several major cities throughout the country.<\/p>\n
But, Attorney General's Office (AGO) spokesman Barman Zahir
\nrevealed on Saturday that Winfried Simatupang, the contractor of
\nthe social project, had returned Rp 32.5 billion to state
\ninvestigators. Another Rp 7.5 billion of the stolen money was
\nreportedly returned on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Most legislators agree that the return of Rp 40 billion in
\nfunds to state investigators proved that the food distribution
\nprogram for the poor had never taken place, implying the public
\nhad been deceived.<\/p>\n
A number of legislators, including Firman Jaya Daeli of PDI
\nPerjuangan, proposed the setting up of an ad hoc honorary council
\nto deal with Akbar's replacement.<\/p>\n
According to the House's internal regulations, a plenary
\nmeeting could call an ad hoc honorary council to review alleged
\nviolations to Law No. 4\/1999 on the composition of the House and
\nthe Assembly and to the Code of Ethics.<\/p>\n
The House's Code of Ethics requires all House members to
\nmaintain the honor and credibility of the House.<\/p>",
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