PAN expels 8 officials in Padang<\/p>\n
Syofiardi Bachyul JB, Padang<\/p>\n
The central board of the National Mandate Party (PAN) has
\ndismissed eight of its West Sumatra councillors who were recently
\nconvicted by the Padang District Court in a graft case involving
\n43 councillors.<\/p>\n
PAN chairman and presidential candidate Amien Rais announced
\non Friday he had signed a decree on their dismissal.<\/p>\n
Speaking at Tabing Airport here prior to his departure for a
\ncampaign in Bukittinggi, he said the councillors were expelled in
\nthe interest of upholding the party's integrity and discipline.<\/p>\n
\"I will not dismiss only those convicted in West Sumatra, but
\nalso other PAN members elsewhere. The corruption case here is
\nodd, as the councillors committed it collectively,\" Amien said,
\nbut did not elaborate further.<\/p>\n
The eight are: West Sumatra Council speaker Arwan Kasri and
\ncouncillors Marhadi Efendi, Hasan Yunus, Malik Ismail, Achir
\nKhair, Khaidir Khatib Bandaro, Abdul Manaf Thaher and Alfian.<\/p>\n
The Padang District Court convicted them on May 17 along with
\n35 other members of the 55-strong council for their roles in
\nabusing Rp 6.4 billion (US$750,000) of the provincial budget.<\/p>\n
Arwan and his two deputies, from other parties, were sentenced
\nto 2.3 years' imprisonment and fined Rp 100 million, while the
\nremaining 40 councillors each received a two-year sentence.<\/p>\n
PAN secretary-general Patrialis Akbar said the decision to
\nexpel the eight councillors was made on June 9 in accordance with
\nthe party's commitment to maintain supremacy of law.<\/p>\n
When asked about the fate of Marhadi, who was reelected in the
\nApril 5 legislative election despite his conviction, Patrialis
\nsaid he would be required \"to quit voluntarily\", because he had
\nbeen expelled from the party.<\/p>\n
Marhadi refused to comment on his dismissal when contacted by
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, noted academic Saldi Isra' said PAN's decision to
\ndismiss its convicted members should be heeded positively by
\nother parties in a combined effort against corruption.<\/p>\n
\"Measures like this should not be taken only by PAN, but other
\nparties also... And not only in West Sumatra, but also other
\nprovinces throughout the country because this would set a
\nprecedent and be a lesson for other corruptors,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Isra' is the coordinator of the Concern for West Sumatra Forum
\n(FPSB), which first disclosed the high-profile graft scam.<\/p>\n
He also said former PAN councillor Marhadi should
\nautomatically be scrapped by the General Elections Commission
\nfrom the list of new legislative members for the 2004-2009 term.<\/p>\n
It is a condition that legislative seats can be held only by
\nthose party members who are nominated to the legislature by their
\nown party, Isra' said.<\/p>\n
PAN's firm stance against its corrupt members is further
\nexpected to boost Amien's image and popularity ahead of the July
\n5 presidential election.<\/p>",
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