Letter critical of transprot ministry sparks ruckus<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar called for an end to the controversy over
\na letter reportedly written by a senior official to President
\nSoeharto over irregularities at the Ministry of Transportation.<\/p>\n
Moestahid Astari, chairman of the ruling grouping faction at
\nthe House of Representatives (DPR), also called on the public in
\ngeneral and others to let the government resolve the issue.<\/p>\n
\"Give the government the opportunity to solve the problem by
\nits own mechanism,\" he said. \"I believe the government wouldn't
\nwant to let this case drag on too long, creating public
\ncontroversy, nor would it turn a blind eye to it.\"<\/p>\n
\"Let's leave things up to the President,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The controversies arose following reports that copies of a
\nletter from Secretary General of National Development K. Harseno,
\nwhose position is under the State Secretariat, to President
\nSoeharto, have been circulating in public for some time.<\/p>\n
The letter is said to contain details about irregularities,
\nsuch as embezzlement, taking place in companies under the aegis
\nof the Ministry of Transportation.<\/p>\n
Harseno was quoted by the Media Indonesia daily as confirming
\nyesterday that he did draw up \"a memorandum, containing in-depth
\nreports on the ministry\" and send it to the President. \"It's my
\nduty,\" he said, but declined to give any details about the
\ndocument.<\/p>\n
The leaders of the United Development Party (PPP) faction have
\nreportedly requested a meeting with Harseno in order to ask for
\nclarification. Moestahid said his faction would also welcome an
\nopportunity for dialogs with Harseno.<\/p>\n
Political observer Amien Rais was quoted by Media Indonesia as
\nsaying yesterday that there were actually three documents
\ncirculating, one of which was counterfeit.<\/p>\n
There was no explanation how Amien became privy to the
\ninformation. Amien himself could not be reached for comments
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The daily also reported the directors of state-owned railway
\ncompany Perumka and bus company DAMRI, both under the management
\nof the Ministry of Transportation, denying any knowledge of the
\nletter.<\/p>\n
Anwar Supriyadi, former director of Perumka, refused to
\ncomment when asked by the press about a certain amount of non-
\nbudgetary funds that the company spent under his management.<\/p>\n
\"I really can't remember,\" he reportedly said, and suggested
\nthat the press check with his successor, Soemino.<\/p>\n
Soemino, however, also refused to comment except to say that
\nhe did not know anything about the letter.<\/p>\n
Moestahid said he did not know whether the letter was
\noriginal, but wondered how it could have fallen into somebodies
\nhand and subsequently circulated in public.<\/p>\n
\"We should bring the letters to the police criminal laboratory
\nfor examination,\" he said. \"How does our bureaucracy keep
\nsecrets, anyway? Aren't those documents classified? How sad,\" he
\nsaid.(swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/letter-critical-of-transprot-ministry-sparks-ruckus-1447893297",
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