Gus Dur to appoint expert to study amendment to the 1945 Constitution

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said here on Thursday that he would appoint constitutional law expert Harun Alrasid to chair a special committee to study the amendment of the 1945 Constitution.

Speaking before the launching ceremony for an autobiography of Djuanda, a former prime minister under the country's first president Soekarno in the early 1960s, Abdurrahman claimed that the committee was aimed at "straightening out the constitutional crisis" faced by the country.

Abdurrahman, who has been under House of Representatives investigation for his alleged involvement in two financial scandals, said there was confusion as to whether the country's political system was parliamentary or presidential.

"Therefore, I have asked Professor Harun Alrasid to set up a committee to study the amendment of the 1945 Constitution," Abdurrahman said.

He added that he would also appoint former justice minister Muladi as the committee's secretary.

The statement was made against the backdrop of Abdurrahman's refusal on Tuesday to appear before the House special committee for questioning over two financial scandals.

The special committee is seeking to question Abdurrahman about the fraudulent withdrawal of Rp 35 billion (US$ 3.6) from a State Logistics Agency (Bulog) foundation by his masseur, and about the disposition of US$2 million donated by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei that the President claimed was a personal gift.

He reiterated on Thursday that under the presidential system, the president could not be held accountable by the House.

Abdurrahman also reiterated that the House probes into the scandals were "illegal".

He said last month that none of the special committees formed by the House were registered with the state secretariat as required by a 1954 law, which also stipulated that such committees should be listed in the state gazette.

Allegations that the President is implicated in the scandals have been seized on by his critics in the House to step up calls for his resignation. (byg)