Akbar must be alienated from public: Observer

Akbar must be alienated from public: Observer

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A motion in the House of Representatives (DPR) to suspend Speaker
Akbar Tandjung had proven ineffective, therefore the public
should mete out their own punishment by alienating the convicted
felon, an analyst said Wednesday.

Political analyst J. Kristiadi of the Centre for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS) doubted that the House would ever
settle the issue, given the prolonged debate and frequent delays
in the talks about the validity of the petition of no confidence
against Akbar, who was sentenced to three years in jail for
corruption, but remains free pending appeal.

The House leaders concluded on Tuesday that their internal
rules did not contain regulations required to suspend Akbar. They
returned the matter back to the House Steering Committee (BAMUS).

Kristiadi alleged that the petition drive was merely a
melodrama for the benefit of those legislators who made it
public.

He emphasized that the public could not rely on the House to
suspend Akbar, therefore the public should find its own form of
punishment.

"Never expect a suspension (from the House). It will be more
feasible for the public to give him no space or time in the
public spotlight. He (Akbar) must be alienated," Kristiadi said.

As the minister/state secretary under the administration of
President B.J. Habibie, Akbar was convicted of misusing Rp 40
billion (at the time over US$ 5 million) belonging to the State
Logistics Agency (Bulog) in 1999 for a food-for-the-poor program.
Many believe the money went to his Golkar Party's campaign
coffers.

He appealed the verdict, a move that helped him evade prison
for the moment.

Since the verdict was handed down, over 100 legislators
initiated a petition of rejection against Akbar's leadership. The
move, however, faced strong resistance from Akbar's loyalists and
allies from other parties.

The House also rejected earlier this year -- before the
court's verdict -- a motion to establish a special committee of
inquiry into Akbar's alleged role in the misuse of Bulog funds.

The petition against Akbar was submitted on Sept. 16, but the
proposal remained uncertain. Many believe the frequent delays in
the debate on the proposal was a result of backroom deals among
the elite political leaders.

Kristiadi suspects that the deals were designed to secure the
general elections in 2004.

Meanwhile, several legislators promised to continue the motion
by pushing the Steering Committee to cut short the procedure and
bring the proposal to a plenary meeting.

They said the motion by nearly 118 legislators must not be
terminated simply by a conclusion from the House's leaders
meeting.

Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction Rodjil
Ghufron branded the conclusion as unethical because it was made
at a meeting presided over by Akbar himself.

"Therefore, that conclusion is not binding," Rodjil told the
press at his office here on Wednesday.

Fellow legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Panda Nababan concurred with Rodjil,
saying the Steering Committee would continue its tasks by
discussing the issue.

Both legislators were commenting on the conclusion of the
leaders meeting announced by deputy House speaker Muhaimin
Iskandar on Tuesday.

Akbar told fellow legislators on Wednesday to stop the motion
against him.

He reiterated that the House's leaders meeting on Tuesday had
concluded that there was no regulation on a motion of no
confidence against a House speaker.

"Therefore, it can't be followed up further," Akbar added.

Meanwhile, legislator Firman Jaya Daeli of PDI Perjuangan
rejected Akbar's statement.

Firman said the conclusion taken during the House's leaders
meeting was not binding. "It was only an opinion. We may or may
not accept that," said Firman, deputy secretary of PDI Perjuangan
faction.