Kampar legislature asked to review decision<\/p>\n
Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru<\/p>\n
Home Minister Hari Sabarno asked the Kampar, Riau, legislative
\ncouncil to review its decision on the impeachment of the regent
\nand deputy regent, which he considered in contradiction to the
\n1999 regional autonomy law.<\/p>\n
The minister, in his letter delivered to the legislature on
\nNov. 5, 2002, insisted that before proposing a no-confidence
\nvote, both the regent and his deputy should have been given an
\nopportunity to clarify the wrongdoings they had been accused of.<\/p>\n
The minister's letter reached the legislature on Monday and
\nwas received by chairman of the Kampar legislative council
\nSaifuddin Effendy.<\/p>\n
The legislative council impeached Regent Jefri Noer and his
\ndeputy A. Zakir in a plenary session on Oct. 12, 2002, for a
\nvariety of reasons. The main reasons were that the pair's
\nperformance in the past eleven months had been poor, Jefri had
\nissued several controversial regulations in the regency and his
\nsenior technological school diploma was a fake.<\/p>\n
Of the total 45 members of the legislature, 30 legislators,
\nfrom the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan), Golkar Party, United Development Party (PPP),
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB) and the Indonesian
\nMilitary\/National Police factions, supported the pair's
\nimpeachment while the remaining 15, from the National Mandate
\nParty faction, opposed it.<\/p>\n
Saifuddin said over the weekend that the legislative council
\nwould hold a plenary session to elect a new regent and deputy to
\nreplace the pair. While asking the legislators to keep their
\ncool, Riau Governor Saleh Djasit said he would establish an
\ninquiry team to investigate the matter.<\/p>\n
The home minister said in his letter, a copy of which made
\navailable to The Jakarta Post, that the legislative council
\nshould comply with the official procedure as it was required by
\nGovernment Regulation No. 108\/2000 on the replacement of
\nofficials in regions, if it wanted the pair to be replaced.<\/p>\n
The regulation requires the legislative council to afford the
\nregent the opportunity to respond to all matters cited in the
\naccusations. If the regent's clarification were rejected, the
\nlegislative council would be permitted to propose that the
\nPresident, via the home minister, replace him.<\/p>\n
According to the regional autonomy law, only the president has
\nauthority to dismiss regional officials. Legislatures are allowed
\nto impeach governors, regents and mayors only if they are
\ndeclared guilty in court.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Regent Jefri hailed the minister's letter, saying
\nhe was ready to present the progress report on his
\nadministration's accountability before the legislators at any
\ntime the legislative council wished him to do so.<\/p>\n
\"According to the minister's letter, the legislative council's
\ndecision (on the impeachment) was invalid.<\/p>\n
\"If the legislature wants me to be replaced, it should hold a
\nplenary session to ask for my accountability statement and an
\nexplanation on all things of which I have been accused,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Saifuddin declined to make any comment on the minister's
\nletter, saying that he would take it to the upcoming plenary
\nsession for its response.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kampar-legislature-asked-to-review-decision-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}