PDI Perjuangan stops challenge to Gus Dur<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives' bid to issue an
\nopinion of discontent with President Abdurrahman Wahid suffered a
\nmajor blow on Tuesday when the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction dropped its support.<\/p>\n
The surprise move was announced by PDI Perjuangan legislator
\nPanda Nababan during a plenary session to consider two proposals
\nregarding the House's response to the President's reply to the
\ninterpellation motion.<\/p>\n
\"PDI Perjuangan faction considered the proceeding complete
\nwhen the President presented his reply to the interpellation
\nmotion. Many things were accomplished during the People's
\nConsultative Assembly Annual Session to control the government,\"
\nPanda told the session which was presided over by House deputy
\nspeaker A.M. Fatwa.<\/p>\n
The withdrawal of PDI Perjuangan, which holds 153 seats in the
\nHouse, will virtually kill the first proposal demanding that the
\nHouse issue a statement of dissatisfaction with the President's
\ndismissal of state minister for investment and state enterprises
\ndevelopment Laksamana Sukardi and minister of industry and trade
\nYusuf Kalla in April.<\/p>\n
Some 235 legislators, including those from PDI Perjuangan, had
\nsupported the proposal originally.<\/p>\n
The other proposal, signed by 25 legislators, mostly
\nrepresentatives of Abdurrahman's National Awakening Party (PKB),
\nasked the House to accept Abdurrahman's explanation.<\/p>\n
With PDI Perjuangan reversing its earlier stance, Panda
\nquestioned the first proposal's validity.<\/p>\n
\"From now on the sponsors of the proposal should no longer
\nclaim to have won support from 252 legislators,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Another PDI Perjuangan legislator Suratal asked the House to
\nforgive the President since Abdurrahman apologized during his
\nreply to interpellation.<\/p>\n
\"Although Gus Dur did not mention his mistakes in detail, he
\napologized. We should not complicate the matter,\" Suratal said,
\nreferring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.<\/p>\n
He suggested that in the future the House initiate
\ninterpellation motions on more substantive matters, such as
\nnational disintegration or the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Fatwa said the fate of the two proposals would be decided by
\nthe House's consultative body (Bamus).<\/p>\n
\"Since the proposals already have been submitted, let Bamus
\ndecide,\" Fatwa who is also deputy chairman of the National
\nMandate Party (PAN) said.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the session, Hafiz Nawawi, the spokesman for the
\ngroup supporting the first proposal, demanded the House declare
\nits discontent with Abdurrahman's reply.<\/p>\n
\"The President's reply did not touch the substance of the
\nHouse's interpellation motion,\" Hafiz from Golkar read the
\nproposal which was signed in July.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the opposition legislators Andi Najmi Fuadi said
\na response to the dismissal of Laksamana and Kalla was no longer
\nrelevant following the Cabinet reshuffle.<\/p>\n
Scandals<\/p>\n
Tuesday's plenary session also agreed on the composition of
\nthe House's special committee to investigate the Rp 35 billion
\nscandal involving the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and US$2
\nmillion given to Abdurrahman by the Sultan of Brunei to assist
\nwith problems in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The team consists of 50 legislators, 15 from PDI Perjuangan,
\n12 from Golkar, six from the United Development Party (PPP), five
\nfrom PKB and four from the Reform Faction.<\/p>\n
Several outspoken legislators will sit on the committee,
\nincluding Ade Komaruddin from Golkar, Suryadharma Ali from PPP
\nand Alvin Lie from Reform Faction. PDI Perjuangan has yet to
\ndecide its representatives.<\/p>\n
The establishment of the committee followed the House's
\nplenary session last week which decided to investigate the
\nscandals that allegedly implicate Abdurrahman. (jun)<\/p>",
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