Absent legislators face punishment

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) central board is discussing punishment for two of its lawmakers whose absence cost its secretary-general Sutjipto the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speakership post on Wednesday.

"We will settle the matter internally. We will never tolerate undisciplined members," Sutjipto said on Thursday.

He was referring to Philip Wijaya and Tumbu Saraswati.

Sutjipto, who was nominated by the Nationhood Coalition, lost to the pro-Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono camp's candidate Hidayat Nurwahid by just two votes in the election of MPR speaker.

Whatever punishment handed down to the two lawmakers, the party would not make it public, Sutjipto said. -- JP