House members differ in Habibie hearing row

House members differ in Habibie hearing row

JAKARTA (JP): Legislators from two commissions in the House of
Representatives have clashed over the right to hold a hearing
with "super minister" B.J. Habibie.

The row, which entered its third day yesterday, pits members
of House Commission X for research, technology and environment
against Commission VI for industrial matters.

Habibie, the minister of research and technology, was caught
in the squabble in his capacity as chairman of the Council for
the Development of Eastern Indonesia.

Tempo magazine reported in 1992 that Habibie, one of President
Soeharto's confidants, held at least 25 positions in the
government, state-owned firms and non-governmental organizations.

The debate erupted on Tuesday after Commission X chairman
Markus Wauran, known as one of "Habibie's men", foiled Commission
VI's plan to meet with Habibie on the grounds that Habibie is his
commission's working partner.

He had reportedly written Commission VI chairman Errie
Soekardja twice asking him to cancel the plan although Habibie
had agreed to attend the hearing.

Markus's bold move angered Commission VI members, who argued
that they have the right to hold a hearing with Habibie in his
capacity as council chairman, not as minister.

"Markus was pretending he was unaware that we have the right
to hold a meeting with Habibie in his capacity as council
chairman," said Soenarjo, a senior Commission VI member from the
ruling Golkar party faction.

Also enraged by Markus's maneuver was Oediyanto Hadi Sudarmo,
a Commission VI member from the powerful Armed Forces faction.

"We didn't mean to trespass on Commission X's territory. In
the past, Commission X members visited a factory which was our
working partner and we did not even think of lodging protest," he
told journalists.

As the row continues, deputy House Speaker Ismail Hasan
Metareum stepped into the fray Wednesday, saying that Commission
VI may meet with Habibie on the condition that it has permission
from Commission X.

"The House leadership has no objection... I have recommended
that Commission VI seek permission from Commission X," he said.

But Ismail's remark only added fuel to the fire. Yesterday,
Soenarjo charged that the comment only proved that Ismail did not
know the House rules on the particular subject.

Soenarjo said that in his capacity as development council
chief, Habibie's working partner in the House has yet to be
determined. This means that any commission may meet with him.

"Ismail was wrong to make us seek permission from Commission
X. Maybe he is too old to understand the basics of the House
rules," he said. (pan)