Golkar prepares sanctions against Akbar opponents

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Golkar Party has formed a special team to consider possible sanctions for dissenting legislator Marwah Daud Ibrahim.

A member of the team, Ade Komaruddin, said Marwah and executives from Golkar's provincial chapters would be summoned to clarify their continued demands that party chairman Akbar Tandjung relinquish his position as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Ade said his team would not impose any punishments on Marwah but only would issue recommendations to Golkar leaders, who would decide on what if any sanctions were appropriate for Marwah.

Marwah has become a thorn in Golkar's side, openly demanding that Akbar relinquish his position in the House and the party in light of his graft conviction.

Ade, a close aide to Akbar, said the decision to form a team to consider sanctions against Marwah's was prompted by the fact that all of Golkar's regional chapters support Akbar's leadership.

He said that even after Akbar was convicted and sentenced to three years in jail for graft, all of the regional chapters maintained their support for Akbar.

"We are not trying to create the public opinion (that Marwah is in the wrong), but just study this matter," Ade said.

According to Ade, the special team will be guided in its work by the procedures and code of conduct that govern Golkar.

An administrative penalty can be given to any party member considered to have violated the code of conduct.

Ade refused to elaborate on what kinds of sanctions the team could recommended for Marwah, who hails from South Sulawesi.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, an unbowed Marwah expressed disappointment over the sluggish response from House leaders to increasing demands for Akbar's dismissal.

"If they (House leaders) had the political will, this (demand to remove Akbar) would have been decided by now," she said.

The House leadership meeting on Tuesday failed to discuss a proposal to remove Akbar from the Speaker's chair. Akbar, who chaired the meeting, said the House leaders needed more time to study the matter.

According to Akbar, the issue could possibly be discussed at the next House leadership meeting, which usually take place every Tuesday.

A group of House legislators submitted a petition on Sept. 16 demanding Akbar's suspension and replacement by House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno.