Call for Akbar's removal ignored

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

One day after corruption suspect Akbar Tandjung was detained by the Attorney General's Office, only the 53-strong National Awakening Party (PKB) faction had called for his immediate replacement as House of Representatives (DPR) speaker.

However, PKB's call is likely to fall on deaf ears as most factions, including President Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), have tacitly thrown their support behind the beleaguered Golkar chairman.

PKB legislator Effendi Choirie said on Friday that the removal of Akbar from the DPR was badly needed to help improve the tarnished image of one of the highest state institutions in the country.

"This institution must be led by a respected figure. We don't want to be led by a detainee. He is not a political detainee, but a person accused of criminal act," said Effendi, implying that Akbar had lost his moral authority to lead the DPR.

Based on the House's internal regulations, a plenary meeting has the authority to call an ad hoc honor council to review any legislators accused of violating the code of ethics, including an inability to maintain the dignity and honor of the House.

Effendi's call failed to garner much support as two of the four deputy House speakers insisted at a separate occasion on Friday that there would be no replacement for the House top postholder.

"There is no talk about his (Akbar) replacement. The leadership of the House is collective, so the four deputies can substitute for that post," said deputy House speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno of PDI Perjuangan.

PDI Perjuangan is the largest party, holding 153 seats at the DPR, while Golkar is the second, with 120.

Deputy speaker A.M. Fatwa of the National Mandate Party (PAN) added that Akbar's detainee status would not affect activities in the House, urging the public not to exaggerate it.

He said the detention of Akbar was part of a legal process that had nothing to do with activities at DPR.

"No, there is no connection between the two situations," Fatwa told The Jakarta Post after Friday prayers, without elaborating.

The other two deputy House speakers are Tosari Widjaja of the United Development Party (PPP) and Muhaimin Iskandar of the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Following his third questioning session on Thursday, the Attorney General's Office detained Akbar, who has been declared a suspect in the misuse of Rp40 billion in funds belonging to the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) when he was minister/state secretary in 1999.

Effendi said that the replacement of Akbar could be carried out via an election by legislators at a plenary meeting. Therefore, his party would strive to get more support from other fellow legislators to win the battle.

Despite the effort to unseat him, however, it is unlikely that Akbar will be replaced from the top legislative post due to an absence of supporting precedents.

People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) deputy speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita, who was detained last year for alleged graft involving state oil company Pertamina, has thus far remained untouched.

Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin, who has also been prosecuted for graft, still heads the central bank.

Support for Akbar also came from Golkar members themselves, who said that their party would continuously defend him.

Priyo Budi Santoso of Golkar revealed that the party members would defend Akbar's position as Golkar chairman. "We're all ready to be led by Akbar in custody," he said.

Chairman of the Golkar faction Marzuki Achmad said that his faction would not take action solely due to provocation by rival factions. "We will see about it later," he said.

Taking all of this into consideration, there is a real possibility that Akbar need not worry unduly over his position.

Meanwhile, A.A. Baramuli, a senior Golkar member and Akbar's rival within the party, recommended that Golkar's executive board choose a figure to take over the daily tasks of Akbar at the party.

"In his status as a suspect and detainee, I think Pak Akbar can no longer carry out his tasks optimally. It needs an acting chairman," he was quoted as saying by Antara in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, on Friday.

Baramuli urged Golkar not to intensively defend Akbar because his alleged involvement in the graft case was personal and occurred in his capacity as minister/state secretary in 1999.

He added that Akbar had to be held accountable for the graft individually, not Golkar.