House members wrestle to push out Akbar

House members wrestle to push out Akbar

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Leaders of the factions at the House of Representatives (DPR)
said on Tuesday that legislators have the right to propose the
dismissal of Akbar Tandjung from his position as House speaker.

"I think House members know of the mechanism to discuss this
issue (Akbar's dismissal). They can, for example, collect
signatures of support from legislators," chairman of Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction Roy B.B.
Janis said, after attending a meeting of House leaders here.

Roy admitted that his faction, the most influential House
faction with 153 seats, had discussed this matter, but there was
no talk of putting it into effect.

Secretary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction Amin
Said Husni shared Roy's remarks, saying that Akbar's dismissal
had been a hot topic among PKB members.

Deputy House speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno said on Tuesday
he was ready to take the top legislative post from Akbar if the
Golkar chairman was removed from his House post.

The statement of Soetardjo, a senior politician of PDI
Perjuangan, underscored the political maneuvering performed by
legislators in recent days.

"I have carried out the duties of House speaker both when
Akbar went on pilgrimage last month and after his detention on
Thursday," Soetardjo said, as quoted by Antara.

People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Amien Rais also
suggested on Tuesday that Akbar's removal should be discussed
among leaders of the factions and the legislators.

"It's true that there is no legal reason to ask for his
resignation. But, if the reason is morality, the result will be
different," Amien said, referring to the insistence by certain
legislators that Akbar retains his position.

Assembly Decree No. VIII/2001 on the guidelines for the
eradication of corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) says that
any state official suspected of corruption has to receive
administrative punishment.

But, there is little explanation on the forms of penalty.

Many legislators have expressed concern over the fact that the
House, which is supposed to be respected by the public, was
currently led by a detainee.

For various reasons, legislators have proposed the replacement
of Akbar, who is a suspect in the misuse of Rp 40 billion
belonging to the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).

Many legislators have asked for Akbar's replacement for
functional reasons, but others have said that Akbar must be
dismissed because he had lied to the public.

The money was previously claimed to have been spent to finance
1.7 million food packages for poor families in about 1,500
subdistricts in several major cities throughout the country.

But, Attorney General's Office (AGO) spokesman Barman Zahir
revealed on Saturday that Winfried Simatupang, the contractor of
the social project, had returned Rp 32.5 billion to state
investigators. Another Rp 7.5 billion of the stolen money was
reportedly returned on Tuesday.

Most legislators agree that the return of Rp 40 billion in
funds to state investigators proved that the food distribution
program for the poor had never taken place, implying the public
had been deceived.

A number of legislators, including Firman Jaya Daeli of PDI
Perjuangan, proposed the setting up of an ad hoc honorary council
to deal with Akbar's replacement.

According to the House's internal regulations, a plenary
meeting could call an ad hoc honorary council to review alleged
violations to Law No. 4/1999 on the composition of the House and
the Assembly and to the Code of Ethics.

The House's Code of Ethics requires all House members to
maintain the honor and credibility of the House.