Gus Dur to answer interpellation motion

Gus Dur to answer interpellation motion

JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung
confirmed on Friday President Abdurrahman Wahid had agreed to
attend a House plenary session on July 20 to answer an
interpellation motion.

Akbar said he met with Abdurrahman to deliver the House's
invitation to the session, which was originally slated for July
13.

Abdurrahman could not attend the session on July 13 because of
his busy schedule and also required adequate time to prepare for
the session, according to Akbar.

"So we had to adjust to the President's schedule. But the
important thing is that the President is willing to come," he
said.

According to House rules, the President does not have to
attend the session to answer the interpellation motion.

During the session, Abdurrahman is expected to be questioned
over his controversial policies, primarily the dismissal of state
minister of investment and state enterprises development
Laksamana Sukardi and minister of industry and trade Yusuf Kalla.

The House voted overwhelmingly for the interpellation motion
last week to seek an explanation from the President on a number
of matters.

The President was earlier called by the House to explain his
decision to disband the ministries of information and social
affairs last November.

Both the President and the House have met three times for
regular consultation meetings in the first six months of
Abdurrahman's administration.

Akbar said on Friday he did not know why the President chose
to answer the interpellation motion on July 20, the penultimate
day the House is in session for the May to July period.

Asked if the President would be asked by the House to
apologize for his controversial statements, Akbar said the House
would welcome an apology.

"If Gus Dur admits his mistakes, we will forgive him because
as Indonesians we are friends," Akbar said, referring to the
President by his nickname.

However, he said legislators from nine House factions might
want to pursue the interpellation motion if they were unsatisfied
with the President's explanations.

Meanwhile, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais
expressed his belief that Abdurrahman would accept the House's
invitation to explain his actions.

"If it's allowed by my religion, I bet on Gus Dur's
appearance," Amien, who is chairman of the National Mandate Party
(PAN), said.

He said all the lingering problems of the interpellation
motion would be settled if Abdurrahman appeared before the House
and answered their questions.

He reiterated that the interpellation motion was not an effort
to topple the President.

Analysts have speculated that Abdurrahman will appear before
the House and deliver an apology if House members are not
satisfied with his explanation that the two ministers were
dismissed for their involvement in graft.

Abdurrahman earlier said Yusuf and Laksamana were dismissed
due to disharmony among his economic ministers. (jun)