Golkar buys more time in Akbar's inquiry
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Golkar managed to buy more time to further lobby its position on Thursday by succeeding in delaying the House of Representatives Consultative Body's decision on whether to propose a special investigation into the alleged misuse of State Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds by Akbar Tandjung.
Barring yet another postponement, the body will decide on Monday if the proposal for a House special committee on the alleged corruption by the Golkar chief and House speaker should be brought to a plenary House session.
The delay, however, was not all that surprising as Golkar's lobbying in the past week had shown signs of making political headway by convincing other factions that a special committee was unnecessary.
Should the Consultative Body and eventually the House in a plenary session agree to the proposal for an investigation, the results could be politically damaging to Golkar as it sets its eyes on the 2004 election.
After a lengthy three-hour afternoon debate, the body, chaired by House deputy speaker Muhaimin Iskandar, could only agree to postpone their decision.
Despite only occupying 18-seats in the 76-strong Consultative Body, Golkar clearly wielded great influence.
Support for Golkar's rejection of the proposal came from members of the United Development Party (PPP) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB) faction.
The proposal was put forward by some 50 legislators.
Even if it does pass the Consultative Body, there is no guarantee that it can be passed in a House plenary session.
Golkar, PPP and PBB have a combined voice of 191 in the 500- seat House.
The key factor will be if Golkar can strike a deal with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which has about 153 seats.
Though many members of PDI Perjuangan cosponsored the proposal it is unclear how the faction would vote in a plenary session.
A two-thirds majority is required if the proposal for a special committee is to pass at the plenary session.
Further delays could further stifle the proposal as the House will be on recess at the end of next week.
Golkar has used all the artillery it can muster to protect its chairman.
Hajriyanto Y. Thohari of Golkar told The Jakarta Post after Thursday's meeting that any investigation should be pursued through legal channels.
Many argue that going through the courts would be a drawn out and tedious process without yielding clear results. The Attorney General's Office has declared former Bulog chief Rahardi Ramelan a suspect, while Akbar remains a witness.
The case surrounds the role of Akbar, as then secretary of state, in the disbursement of Rp 40 billion out of a total Rp 54.6 billion in Bulog funds earmarked for relief operations.
There are suspicions the money found its way into Golkar campaign funds, and even other political parties.
While legislators engaged in futile debate, two opposing groups of demonstrators gathered at the House complex.
Students from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture urged legislators to form the special committee while activists calling themselves the People's Movement for Reform (Gempur) said setting up another committee was useless.
Currently there are already 15 special committees at work on different issues.