House to probe president over Bulog-gate scandal

JAKARTA (JP): Legislators expect an inquiry into the Bulog- gate and Brunei-gate scandals, which could be linked to President Abdurrahman Wahid, to be completed within two months.

The chairman of the Reform Faction in the House of Representatives Hatta Radjasa told journalists here on Tuesday that if the House's special committee of inquiry found evidence of Abdurrahman's involvement in the scandals, it would be submitted to the People's Consultative Assembly and the Attorney General's Office.

He said the Assembly would then deliberate and, if necessary, make recommendations after receiving the results of the special committee's inquiry.

"What kind of recommendations will be issued by the Assembly? We don't want to speculate just yet," Hatta, who is also secretary-general of the National Mandate Party (PAN), said.

He refused to comment on whether there was any prima facie evidence of Abdurrahman's involvement.

The House voted on Monday to launch an inquiry into the scandals.

Some 307 legislators, including legislators from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the President's own National Awakening Party (PKB), voted for the inquiry proposal.

The motion was earlier initiated by 236 signatories, mainly from the Reform, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Golkar Party factions.

Another motion to investigate the non-budgetary funds of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) was rejected by the House although it received the support of PDI Perjuangan and PKB.

The decision to only opt for an inquiry on Bulog-gate and Brunei-gate was regretted by PKB leaders who said that it was part of an effort to topple the government.

Bulog-gate surfaced in April when it was disclosed that Rp 35 billion (US$4.2 million) of funds belonging to the agency's Yanatera employees' foundation had been diverted, allegedly at the request of the president, to finance humanitarian programs in Aceh.

The money, however, reportedly went into the pockets of people close to the President.

Bulog's former deputy chairman Sapuan is currently standing trial in the South Jakarta District Court on corruption charges for his role in the scandal. Another key suspect, Suwondo, who was known as the President's masseur, is still at large.

The other scandal revolves around a personal donation Abdurrahman received from Brunei ruler Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Abdurrahman maintains that the US$2 million donation was to help programs in Aceh and was given in a personal capacity.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) Hendardi was also of the opinion that the inquiry is an effort to unseat Abdurrahman.

"The House's only aim is to discredit the President by focusing solely on the Bulog-gate and Brunei-gate scandals, without taking into account the interests of the people," Hendardi said in a statement.

He suggested that legislators should no longer put their own political advantage ahead of the public interest.

Hendardi also proposed that the House enact a law to regulate the amount of donations that may be received by the President.

Meanwhile, PPP legislator Suryadharma Ali said on Tuesday that the inquiry was solely aimed at empowering the House and not as a political weapon to undermine Abdurrahman.

"The president could be toppled? That's going too far," said Suryadharma, who read the motion to the House's plenary session on Monday.

He pointed out that the results of the inquiry, whether it implicated the president or otherwise, would still have to be submitted to the Assembly and the President.

"It's up to the President to follow up on the outcome," he added.

Golkar legislator Ferry Mursyidan Baldan also supported Suryadharma's opinion.

"Besides empowering the House, its aim is to avoid similar misconduct in the future," Ferry said on Tuesday. (jun)