House may drop interpellation

House may drop interpellation

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives canceled on Friday the
discussion on the interpellation of the President after 11 of its
20 initiators withdrew support for the demanded inquiry into
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's move to chair Cabinet
meetings via a video linkup from New York earlier this month.

The House's standing orders require at least 13 signatures to
file an interpellation.

Among those who withdrew their support were legislators from
the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United
Development Party (PPP) and the Star Reform Party (PBR).

Initiator Ali Mochtar Ngabalin criticized party and faction
leaders for ordering their members to withdraw their support,
saying it crippled an individual legislator's right to be
critical of government policies.

He said the party and faction leaders had also been pushed by
the government to back down from any attempts for the summons of
Susilo over the controversial video linkup that cost up to Rp 500
million (US$50,000). --JP