Golkar claims lousy: Parties
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Leaders of several political parties went ballistic on Thursday over a Golkar party report which claimed that they, too, had received hot money from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) for their 1999 election campaigns.
However, a former National Mandate Party (PAN) official did seem to hint that the party may have received a share of the money.
The scandal has implicated Golkar chief Akbar Tandjung, who is also speaker of the House of Representatives. He allegedly diverted Rp 40 billion to Golkar while he was minister/state secretary in 1999.
"The accusation is false. It was initiated by Golkar officials in their desperate efforts to foil the legal and legislative efforts to hold Akbar responsible for the scandal," said Muhaimin Iskandar, a House deputy speaker from the National Awakening Party (PKB).
The accusation that almost all political parties contesting the 1999 elections were in on the scam was put forth by Syamsul Muarif, a Golkar Party executive who serves as Communications and Information Minister in the current Cabinet.
While refusing to name a source, Syamsul said that all political parties except the People's Democratic Party (PRD) had received part of the Bulog funds.
The investigation over the allegations is proceeding at the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and in the House. Most parties have openly thrown their support behind the formation of a special committee to scrutinize Akbar's role in the scam.
Roy B.B. Janis, Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction described the accusation as "ridiculous".
PDI Perjuangan is chaired by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
"It was illogical. Golkar should remember that there were anti-Megawati campaigns waged by major political parties ahead the (1999) general election.
"Why would they bother to give funds to Megawati while at the same time they were trying hard to block her way to power?" said Roy, who is deputy chief of PDI Perjuangan.
The nationalist PDI Perjuangan won the largest percentage of votes, 34, in the 1999 general elections contested by 48 political parties.
However, not everyone seems ready agree with the flat denials from the party executives.
For example, a former member of PAN, who requested anonymity, admitted that PAN might have received some Bulog money because sometimes there were donations that were not reported transparently.
"For example once Amien Rais received Rp 500 million from (business tycoon) Mochtar Riyadi. It was handed over personally and the party never received a report on the money," the former member said.
A legislator of the United Development Party (PPP), Surya Dharma Ali, demanded that Syamsul show evidence to prove his claims.
Surya said that the accusations could not be taken seriously and everybody should concentrate on Akbar's involvement in the Rp 40 billion corruption.
The Muslim-based PPP is opposed to the establishment of a special House Committee to investigate Akbar, arguing that the committee would need to eventually hand over its findings to the Attorney Generals' Office.
"So what's the difference? It will be better if we just let the Attorney General handle it completely," Surya said.
The only faction which was tight-lipped about the accusation was the tiny Crescent and Star Party (PBB).
The faction has never denied or acknowledged the claim that it had received Rp 1 billion from former president B.J. Habibie. There have been unconfirmed reports that the money was personally received by PBB Chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra in January 1999. The fund allegedly had originated from Bulog.