House to probe president over Bulog-gate scandal

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)