Leading from a detention cell<\/p>\n
He must be an extraordinary person to be able to lead a
\npolitical party from a detention cell. The speaker of the House
\nof Representatives (DPR), Akbar Tandjung, is not an ordinary
\nperson for he is also the general chairman of the country's
\nsecond largest political party, the Golkar Party, as well as
\nhaving once served as secretary of state under former president
\nHabibie.<\/p>\n
When he was secretary of state, Akbar was bold enough to
\nrequest Rp 50 billion from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to
\nalleviate the suffering of people in a number of provinces, which
\nwas approved by then president Habibie. It was later found out
\nthat the money never reached the needy people and disappeared
\ninto the pockets of party officials.<\/p>\n
Following police investigations and endless testimonies by
\npeople associated with Bulog, it was discovered that the money
\nhad been safely deposited in a bank and has been almost
\nfully returned to the state after Akbar and his associates were
\narrested.<\/p>\n
There are voices from outside Golkar urging Akbar Tandjung to
\nresign his post as chairman of the Golkar party and there are a
\ngreat number of legislators also calling him to step down as
\nHouse speaker.<\/p>\n
Apparently, not only can Akbar run his party from a detention
\ncell at the Attorney General's Office, but he may as well
\ninfluence House deliberations, committee meetings and lobbying
\npractices from the same place, perhaps using a mobile phone
\nassisted by members of his family who are the only people allowed
\nto meet him each day.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/leading-from-a-detention-cell-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }