Anti-Akbar campaign hots up in House

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Legislators continued on Wednesday with their attempt to force convicted House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung to relinquish his post as Akbar's Golkar Party renewed its threat to call for a reshuffle in the House leadership should the move against Akbar continue.

The petition to unseat Akbar, which as of Wednesday had been signed by some 70 legislators, could result in a vote of no confidence against Akbar -- who was convicted of stealing Rp 40 billion (US$4.5 million) in state funds -- if more than half of the 500 House members sign it.

However, the public remains unconvinced that the current campaign will lead to the unseating of Akbar given that political horse-trading terminated an earlier move to set up an inquiry into Akbar's case.

It was the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), that buried the motion to investigate the Akbar affair. In the beginning, however, the motion had been supported by many PDI legislators.

This time around, the petition against Akbar has once again won the support of many legislators from the PDI Perjuangan. In fact, most of those who have signed the petition are from the PDI Perjuangan.

Only two legislators, Mutammimul Ula and Irwan Prayitno, have signed the petition from the Reform faction, which itself has set a deadline for Akbar to resign or be forced out.

The petition may get more support from the National Awakening Party, which often clashes with Golkar, as it was said to have been initiated by PKB legislator Susono Yusuf.

Susono could not be reached for comment, but he sent a message by cellular phone to say that moves were being made to collect signatures from among PKB members.

PKB legislator Effendy Choirie claimed that the number of signatures from the PKB had reached 25. "We will keep on collecting signatures," he added.

Dwi Ria Latifa of the PDI Perjuangan said she and fellow legislators would continue the anti-Akbar campaign.

"We will discuss with legislators first. We are in no hurry to submit the petition to House leaders," Dwi told reporters here on Wednesday.

Under House internal regulations, the signatures of a minimum of 10 legislators are required in order for a private member's bill, a motion for the holding of an inquiry, or a formal opinion to be brought before a plenary session by House leaders or the House steering committee.

Legislator Akil Mochtar of Golkar meanwhile disclosed that he and his fellow Golkar members were considering responding to the petition.

He said Golkar legislators would also collect signatures in support of a reshuffle of the House leadership should Akbar's position become seriously threatened.

"If there is a petition submitted against one of the House leaders, we will then question the position of other House leaders," said Akil, a legal adviser to Golkar.

Akil claimed that the current House leadership, which consisted of politicians drawn from the five big factions, was the result of compromise.

The current House leaders are Akbar Tandjung of Golkar, Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno of the PDI Perjuangan, Tosari Widjaja of the United Development Party (PPP), Muhaimin Iskandar of the National Awakening Party (PKB), and A.M. Fatwa of the Reform faction.

Fellow Golkar legislator Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa said the move to force Akbar to relinquish the top legislative post was irrelevant as there had been no final decision on whether Akbar was guilty of corruption.

The Central Jakarta District Court last week declared Akbar guilty of corruption and sentenced him to three years in jail, making him the highest public official to be tried and convicted for corruption.

Despite the verdict, Akbar remains free until his appeal is settled by the Jakarta High Court or even the Supreme Court.

Just days after his conviction, Akbar even traveled to Hanoi to led the delegation of Indonesian legislators to the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO).

On Wednesday, Akbar took over the presidency of AIPO from the outgoing Vietnamese head of the regional body, Nguyen Van An.