Legislators opposed to inquiry on Akbar case<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Legislators appeared to eat their own words when they signaled
\non Tuesday that they might not press forward with investigations
\ninto Golkar Party chief Akbar Tandjung's alleged abuse of power.<\/p>\n
The signal came only a day after a steering committee of the
\nHouse of Representatives agreed to a proposal to discuss the
\npossibility of forming an inquiry into Akbar's case.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Hamzah Haz, who
\nis also Indonesia's Vice President, said that his faction might
\nchange its views on the establishment of a special committee to
\ninvestigate the case.<\/p>\n
\"It is still possible that we might change our opinion at the
\ncoming plenary meeting. PPP will follow the aspirations of the
\npeople and other factions, as they also represent the people,\"
\nHamzah said, referring to a plenary meeting scheduled for Jan.
\n21.<\/p>\n
Akbar is charged with misappropriating Rp 40 billion in funds
\nfrom the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) while serving as state
\nsecretary.<\/p>\n
The agreement to press forward with the Akbar inquiry on
\nMonday came only after several postponements of the House's
\nagenda to discuss this proposal. It is not immediately clear if
\nthe repeated postponements had been done on purpose or not.<\/p>\n
Hamzah said that the national interest should take priority
\nover other interests and that it was better for the nation to
\ndeal with future problems and not past ones.<\/p>\n
\"Only if it (the establishment of the committee) did not
\njeopardize political stability, would we go ahead,\" Hamzah said.<\/p>\n
The House steering committee comprises 76 members, dominated
\nby four major political parties, including PDI Perjuangan,
\nGolkar, PPP and the National Awakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
Of the 74 members present at Monday's committee meeting, only
\n21 rejected the proposal, 18 from Golkar and 3 from PPP. When
\nlegislators convene for a meeting in January, there will be a
\nfull, 500-strong plenary meeting.<\/p>\n
The 153-strong Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) is faced with internal bickering.<\/p>\n
Party member Haryanto Taslam, in an apparent attempt to silent
\ncritics said, \"Well, I think we are still solid.\"<\/p>\n
Golkar Party officials have claimed that most major parties
\nalso received money from Bulog.<\/p>\n
Ferry Mursyidan Baldan from Golkar said, \"We will argue and
\ntry hard to halt the plan to form an inquiry committee.\"<\/p>\n
Golkar, the second biggest faction, controls 120 seats in the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
Hamdan Zoelva from the Crescent Star Party (PBB) said, \"In
\nprincipal, the House has authority to oversee the current
\ngovernment, not a past one.\"<\/p>\n
PBB, which has two seats on the steering committee, supported
\nthe plan to discuss the formation of an inquiry committee on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
But Hamdan said it did not necessarily mean that PBB supported
\nthe establishment of such a committee.<\/p>\n
Chozin Chumadi from PPP, which has 58 seats in the House, said
\nthat in principle his faction supported the fight against
\ncorruption, but as regards the proposal for an inquiry committee,
\nthat would depend on each PPP member.<\/p>\n
At the plenary meeting in January, the 50 legislators who
\nsupported the proposal would have to give a further explanation
\nabout their plan.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the military\/police faction Budi Harsono
\nreiterated that the final stance of his faction would be revealed
\nat the plenary meeting in January.<\/p>\n
The House has in the past established various special
\ncommittees of inquiry dealing with issues ranging from corruption
\nto human rights abuse.<\/p>\n
Results of the inquiries have become recommendations for the
\ngovernment.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislators-opposed-to-inquiry-on-akbar-case-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}