Interpellation no plot to overthrow govt: PDI faction<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) faction at the House of Representatives here on
\nMonday assured that the majority support for an interpellation
\nwas not aimed at toppling President Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan faction at the House, Arifin
\nPanigoro, told journalists that his faction's support for an
\ninterpellation plan was merely a way to check on the government.<\/p>\n
\"PDI Perjuangan has no objection to the President's decision
\nto dismiss Laksamana Sukardi and Yusuf Kalla but wants to seek
\nclarification about reasons behind the firings so that the
\ngovernment doesn't turn authoritarian,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The House in its plenary session on Monday agreed to hand over
\nthe interpellation plan to be deliberated further by the House's
\ncommittee in charge of deliberating policies (Bamus).<\/p>\n
Last Friday, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung received a list of
\n277 signatures of legislators from five House factions supporting
\nthe interpellation plan.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan and Golkar Party legislators made up the bulk
\nof the petition.<\/p>\n
No less than 125 of 147 PDI Perjuangan legislators and 99 of
\n113 Golkar Party legislators in the House signed the petition for
\nan interpellation.<\/p>\n
Other support came from the Reform and United Development
\nParty (PPP) factions.<\/p>\n
Panigoro pointed out that the interpellation plan was not
\nagainst the constitution because the House has the right to
\ninterpellate the President on any controversial decision and
\npolicies he made.<\/p>\n
\"The check and balance between the House and the government
\nmust be upheld in accordance with the democratic system. That is
\nwhy the President should not consider the interpellation plan as
\na move from certain factions of the House to bring down the
\ngovernment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But another PDI Perjuangan legislator, Yoseph Umarhadi, warned
\nthat the interpellation plan could be manipulated by other
\nfactions to discredit the government and to propose a vote of no-
\nconfidence in the People's Consultative Assembly General Session
\nin August.<\/p>\n
\"It is better for the President to be honest on the reasons
\nbehind his decision to fire the two ministers. If the President
\nis not honest and the House is not satisfied with the President's
\nexplanation, it could raise further political consequences. The
\nHouse could propose an investigation into the case,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that his party was disappointed with
\nLaksamana's firing because he was widely known as an honest
\nfigure in the party.<\/p>\n
\"We are disappointed that he was accused of corrupt, collusive
\nand nepotistic practices and also over the fact that Laksamana's
\nsuccessor was not taken from our party,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Amien Aryoso, chairman of the House's commission on home
\naffairs, called on House factions not to manipulate the
\ninterpellation plan to bring down the government considering the
\nchaotic domestic situation.<\/p>\n
Hamzah Haz, PPP chairman, said in Jepara, Central Java, on
\nSunday that his party would support a move of no-confidence
\nagainst the government if the President was proven to have failed
\nin adhering to Assembly decrees. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/interpellation-no-plot-to-overthrow-govt-pdi-faction-1447893297",
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