Tommy refuses calls to resign from Assembly<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Hutomo Mandala Putra, former president
\nSoeharto's youngest son, refused yesterday to meet calls for him
\nto resign from the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
Resigning without being asked to by one's electorate would be
\nan irresponsible action, the 36-year-old businessman, who is
\nbetter known as Tommy, told reporters after meeting Jakarta
\nGovernor Sutiyoso at City Hall yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Why should I resign? What's the reason?,\" Tommy asked.<\/p>\n
\"Those who chose me were South Sumatrans and up to now they
\nhaven't asked me to resign,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tommy said he would resign only if his backers in the province
\nrequested him to do so.<\/p>\n
\"It would be an irresponsible deed if I resigned without them
\nasking (me to),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Demands for Soeharto's children to resign from the MPR
\nmounted recently as part of a campaign to cleanse it of
\ncollusion, corruption, cronyism and nepotism.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, MPR deputy chairman Abdul Gafur from Golkar urged
\nmembers of the assembly from his organization who are considered
\nto have been elected based on nepotism to resign soon.<\/p>\n
Four of Soeharto's six children are members of the assembly.
\nThe other three are Tommy's oldest sister Siti Hardijanti Rukmana
\n-- better known as Tutut -- his middle brother Bambang
\nTrihatmodjo and middle sister Siti Hediati Prabowo (Titiek).<\/p>\n
Bambang's wife, Halimah, is also a member of the assembly.<\/p>\n
All of them represent Golkar, the dominant political
\norganization, which is still effectively controlled by Soeharto
\nin his capacity as the chairman of the group's patrons.<\/p>\n
Since Soeharto's resignation on May 21 more than 20 Golkar
\nmembers of the MPR have resigned.<\/p>\n
They include wives of senior Golkar leaders, such as chairman
\nHarmoko and secretary-general Ary Mardjono.<\/p>\n
According to Gafur, 10 other MPR members from Golkar,
\nincluding Soeharto's children, should follow suit.<\/p>\n
About 500 students, calling themselves the Jakarta Student
\nSenate Communication Forum, also demanded on Thursday the
\nexpulsion of Bambang and Tutut from Golkar's central executive
\nboard. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tommy-refuses-calls-to-resign-from-assembly-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}