Gus Dur inconsistent in Brunei scam probe

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)