Gus Dur inconsistent in Brunei scam probe

JAKARTA (JP): A House of Representatives special committee concluded on Saturday that President Abdurrahman Wahid gave inconsistent testimony about the US$2 million donation he received from the sultan of Brunei.

Members of the special committee investigating the Brunei scandal and the Rp 35 billion scandal involving the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) said the President acted beyond ethical norms when he accepted the $2 million donation from Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

A. Hafiz Zawawi, a committee member from the Golkar Party faction, said the committee's meeting on Saturday focused on the absence of a report from the President on the donation and how the money was used.

"Our investigation into the scandal shows the President never paid taxes on what he said was a personal donation. The probe also reveals that only a small part of the money ever reached the Acehnese," he said following the meeting.

He said the donation should have been included in the 2000 state budget if it had been received by Gus Dur in his capacity as President.

The President has insisted he accepted the $2 million from Brunei's sultan as a personal donation and therefore did not include it in the state budget and left the management of the money to a relatively unknown business associate, identified as Masnuh. The money reportedly was meant to provide humanitarian assistance in Aceh.

Samuel Koto, a committee member from the Crescent Star Party (PBB), said the committee was worried that irregularities might have taken place in the management and distribution of the money.

"We do not know what the funds have been used for and how they have been distributed. We found that only a small portion of the funds went to Aceh, North and West Sumatra -- three provinces recently hit by floods."

He said several witnesses who were questioned about the Brunei scandal testified that they did not know how the remaining funds were used.

"It is reasonable if the special committee concludes that the remaining funds likely were embezzled," he said.

Karimun, a committee member from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), accused the President of using the Acehnese to raise funds.

"The people of Aceh have been sold to numerous countries, including Brunei Darussalam and Kuwait, to raise funds which were only to be embezzled.

"Besides, the President also allegedly harassed the Aceh provincial administration and legislative council because a small part of the donation was channeled through a non-governmental organization," he said.

Karimun, who is from Aceh, said the possible embezzlement of the money has damaged the Acehnese people's confidence in the President and the government.

He said the scandal offended Acehnese legislators and would slow down talks on the problems in Aceh.

Meanwhile, Bachtiar Chamsyah, the chairman of the special committee, confirmed the committee had resorted to a vote on a number of crucial points regarding the President's role in the two scandals. The points will be included in the committee's draft report to be unveiled during the House's plenary session on Monday.

"We failed to reach a consensus and thus were forced to resort to a vote," he said.

Bachtiar also said the committee has set up a small team, which he will chair, to formulate the conclusions of the investigation in the form of a final report.

"The team will work until Sunday so that the report will be available for presentation at the House plenary session on Monday," he said, adding that the plenary session will be closed to the public. (rms)