Indonesia's envoy to Singapore recalled for alleged 'budget misuse'
Indonesia's envoy to Singapore recalled for alleged 'budget misuse'
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian government has recalled its ambassador to
Singapore, Johan Syahperi, following reports of serious
irregularities found in the embassy's budget.
A member of the House of Representative Commission I on
security and foreign affairs Yasril Ananta Baharuddin confirmed
the news on Wednesday, saying that the ministry of foreign
affairs had informed the commission of the decision.
"The ambassador was withdrawn because he could not explain the
irregularities found in the budget," Yasril remarked.
He suggested that the government immediately appoint a
replacement given the fact that relations with Singapore were
extremely vital.
The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) report made public last week
revealed that irregularities in the ministry of foreign affairs
centered on the embassies in Singapore and China.
The misuse of funds reportedly reached 56.9 percent of the
total of allocated budget of around Rp 83 billion
(US$9.2million).
Johan is one of the ministry's most respected career
diplomats. He held the director general of foreign economic
relations post before his appointment to the ambassadorial post
in Singapore.
He is also known as a young diplomat on the rise.
There was no explanation from Johan regarding his withdrawal.
Foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa admitted on
Wednesday that Johan had returned home last month, but refused to
disclose the reason.
"The ambassador returned home last month, but the reason, I am
not authorized to reveal," Marty told The Jakarta Post by phone.
He asked the Post to call him back as he had to consult his
superiors. But he turned off his phone and was unreachable.
All foreign ministry officials contacted by the Post also
confirmed Johan's return to Jakarta, but refused to provide the
reason for the recall.
Johan was appointed as Ambassador to Singapore in early 2000
replacing Luhut Panjaitan who had been appointed the trade and
industry minister by then president Abdurrahman Wahid.
This is the first time that the recall mechanism has been
imposed on an Indonesian ambassador during the tenure of Hassan
Wirayuda as foreign minister that began last July.
It was not immediately clear whether legal measures would be
taken against Johan.