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)