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)