House set to probe Bulogate and Bruneigate<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid is set to come under
\nmore pressure in the next few months following a decision by the
\nHouse of Representatives to follow-up its interpellation motion
\nand to investigate the Bulogate and Bruneigate scandals.<\/p>\n
A House inter-faction consultative body assigned to set the
\nlegislative body's agenda (Bamus) decided on Thursday to put the
\nissues high on its priority list for the coming months.<\/p>\n
\"According to an agreement reached in the Bamus meeting, the
\nHouse will hold a plenary session on Aug. 28 to decide whether
\nthe House will investigate Bulogate and Bruneigate,\" Ali Yahya of
\nthe Golkar Party faction said.<\/p>\n
The plenary session is expected to accept a proposal to launch
\nan investigation into the two scandals as 257 of the 500 House
\nlegislators had already inked their names to the proposal by
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
They mostly comprise legislators from the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the Golkar Party,
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) and Reform factions.<\/p>\n
Ali said the House would set up a special committee to carry
\nout the investigation if the proposal is accepted.<\/p>\n
\"The special committee will work to thoroughly investigate the
\ndisbursement of the Rp 35 billion in funds from Yanatera (a State
\nLogistics Agency foundation) and the use of US$2 million in aid
\nby the President from the Sultan of Brunei,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Bulog scandal came to the fore after it was alleged that
\nSuwondo, the President's masseur, was able to obtain the release
\nof Rp 35 billion from Sapuan at the Bulog foundation. Sapuan was
\nBulog's deputy chairman.<\/p>\n
The President has insisted that he received the $2 million as
\na personal donation from the Brunei sultan for humanitarian aid
\nfor Aceh.<\/p>\n
Ali said the President had never given an open explanation
\nabout the sultan's financial assistance.<\/p>\n
\"According to the law, financial aid granted by foreign
\ncountries to Indonesia must be inserted into the state budget,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Interpellation<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 252 legislators have also signed a proposal for a
\nright of opinion as a follow-up to the July interpellation motion
\nwhich could also lead to another investigation.<\/p>\n
Bachtiarchamsyah of the PPP faction said Bamus would also meet
\non Aug. 30 to set the date of another House plenary session to
\nfurther discuss the interpellation motion.<\/p>\n
He said legislators who initiated the interpellation motion
\nhad called for a House plenary session to issue a petition
\nfollowing the President's reluctance to openly explain his
\nreasons for sacking two economic ministers in April.<\/p>\n
\"Despite the President's apology, most legislators are
\ndisappointed with his written answer because he failed to give
\nevidence that the two ministers were involved in corruption,
\ncollusion and nepotism. The President must be consistent with
\nwhat he has said,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked if there were political motives behind the proposed
\ninvestigation, Bachtiarchamsyah said it had nothing to do with
\nthe disappointment over the new Cabinet announced on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"These are two different and very separate things. The House
\nis questioning the sacking of the two economic ministers, the use
\nof Yanatera funds and the Sultan's financial aid in an endeavor
\nto carry out its control function,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He admitted that his party was disappointed with the new
\nCabinet but would not be suspicious of it.<\/p>\n
\"We will remain very critical of the government because we are
\nhere representing the people and paid to do our best,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ali said the House would certainly call for a thorough
\ninvestigation by the Attorney General's Office if it found
\nirregularities in the two scandals.<\/p>\n
\"While undergoing a fair investigation, the President must be
\nnonactive,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
He also said the House could issue a memorandum if the
\nPresident was found to have deceived the House over the sacking
\nof the two economic ministers.<\/p>\n
\"This means the President must unveil evidence on the two
\nministers' involvement in the allegation of corruption,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The House will likely call for a special session of the MPR
\nto impeach the President if he is found to have been deceitful
\nover the sacking of the two ministers and involved in the two
\nscandals,\" he said. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-set-to-probe-bulogate-and-bruneigate-1447893297",
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