Akbar asked to probe alleged graft involving House members
Akbar asked to probe alleged graft involving House members
JAKARTA (JP): A whiff of corruption hangs over the House of
Representatives following reports that members of its Commission
IX on finance asked for some Rp 325 million (US$30,000) from a
number of state-owned fertilizer companies during a hearing last
February.
The revelation comes as legislators are preparing themselves
for a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
on Aug. 1, when they are expected to demand that President
Abdurrahman account for two financial scandals he was allegedly
involved in.
In an official letter dated July 4, 2001, the Indonesian
Nationhood faction (FKKI) asked House Speaker Akbar Tandjung to
probe the case and provide a public clarification to clear the
legislators' names.
It was alleged in the letter that the members of Commission IX
asked for the money from the state-owned companies in return for
the holding of a single hearing on Feb. 20, 2001.
From the money, the 57 commission members allegedly received
Rp 5 million each, the three deputy chairmen Rp 7.5 million each,
while the chairman received Rp 10 million. The rest of the money
was allegedly given to the commission secretariat and
journalists.
Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) had previously sent a
confidential letter to Akbar concerning the case, which the FKKI
leaked to the public.
ICW Coordinator Teten Masduki confirmed the report on Thursday
but refused to go into details.
"We sent the letter as a follow-up step to a report we
received. It is up to the House to probe the case," he remarked.
FKKI chairman Sutradara Gintings said that the faction was
only reminding the House to heed the allegation, especially ahead
of the MPR special session.
"I think it is necessary for the House to clarify such matters
because it will tarnish our image, especially when we are trying
to control corruption in the country," Sutradara told The Jakarta
Post on Thursday.
"If the case turns out not to be true then we can clear all
our names. But if it is true then the House should do something
about it," he remarked.
Commission IX member Faisal Baasir claimed to know nothing
about the money but said that many attempts to commit fraud had
been perpetrated using the Commission's name.
"We have warned state-owned companies to reject all demands
from Commission IX members and to report any such requests to the
Commission chairman or secretariat," Faisal told the Post.
He further said that Commission Chairman Benny Pasaribu had
inquired about the matter with the director of the state-owned PT
Pupuk Kaltim fertilizer company and he had denied the story,
claiming his company had never given any money to legislators.
"If ICW has any proof, please let us know so that we can deal
with the problem and take the necessary action. But, I think this
is all part of an attempt to tarnish our image ahead of the
special session," Faisal said.(dja)