Lawmakers face rift over plan to axe colleague<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
An internal conflict among legislators on the House of
\nRepresentatives Commission III for legal, security and human
\nrights was cracked wide open on Wednesday after a plan to get one
\nof them recalled was unveiled on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Commission III deputy chairman Akil Mochtar said commission
\nmembers would hold an internal meeting to discuss a request to
\nrecall Djoko Edhi Soetjipto Abdurrahman from the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN) faction due to his "controversial behavior".<\/p>\n
The planned dismissal was apparently in response to Djoko's
\npublic claim that several commission members, including Akil, had
\nembezzled state money during a working visit to Bali earlier this
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Djoko, who was meant to be in the working visit delegation,
\nsaid he was to sign a report of payment for a 10-day visit, while
\nthe actual period was only four days (July 9 to July 12). He
\neventually decided not to participate.<\/p>\n
A copy of the payment report says each participating
\nlegislator was to get Rp 13 million (US$1,333) for a 10-day
\nworking visit, with spaces for signatures of the legislator and
\nHouse secretariat treasurer Sumarman.<\/p>\n
But Akil said an internal meeting had ordered the lawmakers to
\nreturn the remainder of the money if the itinerary was fewer days
\nthan scheduled, adding that Djoko did not attend the meeting.<\/p>\n
"While other legislators were busy with the working visit, he
\nwas talking nonsense. We will ask to have him recalled from
\nCommission III when we resume sitting next month," Akil said.<\/p>\n
Among the legislators on the working visit were Akil,
\nTaufikurrahman Saleh, Al Muzamil Yusuf, Nadrah Izahari, Agun
\nGunandjar and Nursjahbani Katjasungkana.<\/p>\n
"This isn't the first time he has made a controversial
\nstatement. He (Djoko) also fails to coordinate with other
\nlegislators and often sends (personal) letters on behalf of the
\nHouse. Even I, as a commission leader, have never done that,"
\nAkil said.<\/p>\n
Recently, Djoko also claimed that several members of the
\ncommission had received bribes from people involved in crimes,
\nsuch as smuggling sugar into Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Akil said he had held informal talks with PAN faction chairman
\nAbdillah Toha about Djoko's behavior. Only the faction has the
\nright to deploy or withdraw a legislator from his or her
\nlegislative post.<\/p>\n
Responding to the issue, Abdillah said his faction was not
\nconsidering taking any action against Djoko as the commission had
\nnot taken a formal stance.<\/p>\n
"Pak Akil only told me that some commission members are angry
\nwith Djoko and he would later be summoned (by the PAN faction).
\nBut there's nothing further than that," Abdillah said.<\/p>\n
Apart from discussing the request to recall Djoko, Commission
\nII will also report him to the House disciplinary council, Akil
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Responding to the move, Djoko said he was certain he was not
\nin the wrong, claiming that he had proof to defend his statement.<\/p>\n
"If they want to report me, that would be fine because I'm
\ntelling the truth. I sent a letter to the House secretariat
\nregarding this overpayment, with copies sent to House leaders and
\nthe finance ministry. But there has been no response yet," he
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lawmakers-face-rift-over-plan-to-axe-colleague-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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