House to replace KPU members amid graft probe
House to replace KPU members amid graft probe
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Responding to louder calls from the public and antigraft
organizations, the House of Representatives plans to replace
members of the General Elections Commission (KPU), who are being
investigated for allegedly embezzling billions.
In his opening remarks as the House resumed session on Monday
after a five-week recess, Speaker Agung Laksono said the
legislature had included the planned replacement of KPU members
as part of its supervising function during the next 20 weeks.
"During this House's fourth session, there will be nominations
and elections of public officials, which is the nomination of
Bank Indonesia deputy governors and the replacement of KPU
members," he said.
House deputy speaker Zaenal Ma'arif admitted that the plan to
replace the KPU members came in the wake of intensive demands by
non-governmental and other civil organizations for the House to
do so.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed, over
the past several weeks, strong indications of widespread
corruption at the KPU.
"Yes, the replacement is planned because of demands from many
people for the House to immediately replace the KPU members. But
we'll leave the details to the House Commission II (overseeing
home affairs), including whether or not all of the members will
be replaced," Zaenal said.
Commission II deputy Ida Fauziyah said her commission had not
yet discussed the plan, pending the results of its internal
investigation.
Eleven KPU members were elected through screening by the House
for a four-year tenure in 2001. Two of them, lecturers Imam
Prasodjo and Muji Sutrisno, resigned in 2003 due to conflicts of
interest, while Hamid Awaluddin was appointed justice minister
last year.
The KPU came under fire after one of its key members, Mulyana
W. Kusumah, was caught by KPK investigators, while allegedly
trying to bribe an auditor from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK)
last month in an apparent attempt to influence audit results.
Things worsened after an audit report by the BPK indicated
widespread corruption in the procurement materials for last
year's legislative election.
Agung Laksono said Commission II has been tasked to review the
BPK report and was given two weeks to submit its own report.
Commission II chairman Ferry Mursyidan Baldan said his side
would start its task by summoning KPU members who had promised to
submit a clarification report to the House regarding the BPK
findings some time this week.
A dissenting opinion came from members of Commission III on
legal affairs, who said there was no need for another probe by
the House.
"Our commission is of the opinion that the BPK report should
be directly filed with the KPK to speed up the legal process,"
said Commission III chairman Agustin Teras Narang.
He said the BPK report was already comprehensive and adequate
to help the KPK accelerate its investigation, which many have
deemed to be sluggish.
The KPK has said it was yet to receive the BPK report because
only the House had the authority to share BPK audit reports with
other state institutions.
Meanwhile, KPK chief Taufiequrrahman Ruki said his office had
named a new suspect in the bribery case apart from Mulyana
Kusumah and acting KPU secretary-general Sussongko Suhardjo.
However, Ruki declined to identify the third suspect.
The KPK questioned on Monday three more KPU officials --
financial division head Heri Hermawan, deputy Elpison Anwar and
secretary Susilo Hadi.