Dewi advises Habibie to clear his name

Dewi advises Habibie to clear his name

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie must immediately clear
his name and take firm action against people around him who are
involved in the Bank Bali scandal, his senior adviser said on
Tuesday.

Speaking at a business forum in Jakarta, Dewi Fortuna Anwar
acknowledged the President's reputation has been badly affected
by the bank scandal, and might lower his chances at the
presidential election.

"I believe that Pak Habibie should not hesitate to take action
against his own men even if they are older than him," Dewi said,
but denied she was referring to Supreme Advisory Council (DPA)
chairman and Golkar adviser A.A. Baramuli, 69. Habibie is 63.

Ekky Syahruddin, a member of the House of Representatives
(DPR) in the Golkar faction, said money politics not only
involved Golkar but also the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan). He did not elaborate on Golkar's
involvement.

Ekky told the forum PDI Perjuangan had received Rp 500 billion
around the time of the June elections from the Lippo business
group, adding he had strong evidence to back up his claim.

"I have the evidence in my pocket," he said, without revealing
it.

Separately at her office, Dewi expressed the hope that the
President would make an open statement to distance himself from
the financial scandal, although his aides, including Minister of
Justice/State Secretary Muladi, have already spoken on his
behalf.

"Personally I think it is important for the (statement) to
come directly from the President's mouth, and not from me or Pak
Muladi," Dewi said.

According to Dewi, Habibie personally assured her that he was
innocent in the scandal. "He has checked and asked for a report
from Bank Indonesia to check whether it is true there was a money
transfer to his account or his brothers' accounts, and it is
definite that there has been no single cent found."

The President's youngest brother, Suyatim Abdulrachman "Timmy"
Habibie, also denied his involvement in the scandal, claiming he
has never met former Bank Bali president Rudy Ramli or the other
suspects.

"I, as well as the President, know nothing about the bank
scandal," Timmy said on Sunday night at the President's private
residence in Patra Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Timmy also denied reports that his close friend and former
student activist Hariman Siregar had threatened to kill PDI
Perjuangan executive Dimyati Hartono with his pistol, saying
Hariman's remark was merely a joke.

"As men, of course we have our own pistols," said Timmy,
pointing to his groin and bursting into laughter.

However, the chairman of Semarang's Institute of Legal Aid,
Andik Hardiyanto, still believed Hariman's threat was serious.

"Hariman has the power and backing and he may lack trust in
the law," Andik said in Semarang.

Separately, the editor of Suara Bangsa, Petron Curie,
criticized Amien Rais for maltreating the daily's reporter
Kleofas Klewen on Monday. Petron said Amien treated the reporter
harshly when Kleofas tried to confirm his previous statement that
a major political party was also involved in money politics.

"We just want to express our regret regarding Amien Rais' rude
attitude," Petron said in a statement.

Separately, Antara reported that officials from the central
bank, the Attorney General's office and National Police will meet
on Wednesday to discuss the Bank Bali scandal.

"If criminal elements are found (in the case) they will be
reported to first echelon officials and later the police," Bank
Indonesia Governor Syahril Sabirin said on Tuesday.

He had accompanied Habibie in receiving IMF representative in
Indonesia, Khadeem el-Eyd. (prb/har)