Gowa Regent Breaks Silence on Affair Allegations, Says DPRD Has Overstepped into Private Domain

Gowa Regent Husniah Talenrang has spoken out regarding the special committee (pansus) hearing on the alleged affair that has implicated her. The regent explained that she appreciates the work of the Gowa Regency DPRD in forming the special committee. She considers all forms of policy discussed to be part of the DPRD members’ duties in exercising their rights and obligations as council members. “I, as the subject of the Gowa Regency DPRD’s right of inquiry, certainly greatly respect what my colleagues in the Gowa Regency DPRD are doing. We will oversee everything properly and correctly; all forms of policy discussed by them in the special committee are the DPRD members’ duty to carry out their tasks and obligations,” she said. However, on the other hand, she feels disturbed because the DPRD has gone too far into her private domain. According to her, the discussion regarding the alleged affair in the special committee hearing is no longer related to the DPRD’s duties and functions in overseeing government policy. “But matters that are non-policy, I feel, have violated the rules, and of course, I feel disturbed by what my DPRD colleagues have done, which has gone too far into the private domain because it is non-policy in nature. In my opinion, let us truly understand our respective duties and obligations, because every human being has privacy, and actually, whoever they are, they have the right for their personal rights not to be disturbed,” she said. The Gowa Regent also denied all accusations of infidelity directed at her. She even challenged several witnesses, especially Zaenal, who is a journalist. Husniah believes that what the journalist did has violated the journalistic code of ethics. “Of course, this is not true. I am ready, because there are things saying there is evidence, please. Bring it to me, prove what he said, that there is evidence from one of the witnesses. I think, according to the law, a journalist cannot be a witness in a special committee or right of inquiry hearing. It violates the journalistic code of ethics; surely, under Law Number 40 of 1999, this must be upheld,” she said. Husniah admitted she is ready to be presented at the special committee hearing regarding the issue of her alleged affair with a political consultant in Gowa.