Governor mum on suspension motion

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Embattled East Kalimantan Governor Suwarna Abdul Fatah chose on Wednesday not to address directly a motion by the East Kalimantan provincial council calling for his suspension over graft allegations.

"I leave the matter to the Ministry of Home Affairs," said Suwarna.

Suwarna has been under pressure since last month after he was questioned as part of a corruption investigation. Ensuing protests prompted the East Kalimantan council to call a plenary session, during which most factions supported a decision to file a motion with the President calling for the governor's suspension.

The governor has said he is not the target of the investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission, but was merely questioned as a witness in the case. The case centers on Suwarna's decision to exempt a large plantation company from paying regreening fees to the government. -- JP