Indonesia's Megawati eyes tougher line on foreign firms
Van Zorge Report: Is he, Taufik Kiemas, the real power behind PDIP or is it more a partnership?
Janis: They work together. In the beginning we believed Kiemas controlled Megawati but just before we separated we changed our opinion - they work together. Have you seen Bonny and Clyde the movie? It’s very similar to that. They play ‘good cop and bad cop’. That’s why we were confident with our decision to split from PDIP, which is controlled by the family, the husband and wife. And now their daughter.
Van Zorge Report: Was the corruption within PDIP another factor in the parting of ways?
Janis: Yes. As I say, they work together, not just to control the party but they work together to do the corruption. The last case, which has received some attention, is the controversial Tangguh gas deal with China. This is one example of how they work together: Megawati, as president, sent her husband to China as an envoy. That is against the law. When Megawati sent Taufik to China, she asked me my opinion. I said, ‘that’s wrong, that’s wrong’. When Taufik got back from China, I was very surprised when he told me, ‘Roy, I got a lot of money from China’. I was very close to both, and they talked openly to me. Maybe it is a secret, but for me, no, it is not a secret.
Van Zorge Report: Did you call the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)?
Janis: If they ask me to be a witness, I will. I will tell the story. This is big corruption.
Van Zorge Report: Well, I have to ask you this question then. Your very own Laksamana Sukardi, the former minister of state-owned enterprises, his name has been linked to the massive corruption case involving state oil and gas company Pertamina. He is not considered clean also. Isn’t PDP just a repackaged version of PDIP that spells more of the same for the Indonesian people?
Janis: If it is a problem, our party wouldn’t have grown as it has. This I told to Laksamana.
Van Zorge Report: So the people don’t believe the corruption allegations?
Janis: I can’t say so using words alone but we can prove it by the increasing number of supporters.
Van Zorge Report: Do you believe it?
Janis: I follow the people (laughs). The Attorney General’s Office couldn’t find any single mistake, corruption, on behalf of Mr Laksamana. This case was politically motivated.
Janis: They work together. In the beginning we believed Kiemas controlled Megawati but just before we separated we changed our opinion - they work together. Have you seen Bonny and Clyde the movie? It’s very similar to that. They play ‘good cop and bad cop’. That’s why we were confident with our decision to split from PDIP, which is controlled by the family, the husband and wife. And now their daughter.
Van Zorge Report: Was the corruption within PDIP another factor in the parting of ways?
Janis: Yes. As I say, they work together, not just to control the party but they work together to do the corruption. The last case, which has received some attention, is the controversial Tangguh gas deal with China. This is one example of how they work together: Megawati, as president, sent her husband to China as an envoy. That is against the law. When Megawati sent Taufik to China, she asked me my opinion. I said, ‘that’s wrong, that’s wrong’. When Taufik got back from China, I was very surprised when he told me, ‘Roy, I got a lot of money from China’. I was very close to both, and they talked openly to me. Maybe it is a secret, but for me, no, it is not a secret.
Van Zorge Report: Did you call the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)?
Janis: If they ask me to be a witness, I will. I will tell the story. This is big corruption.
Van Zorge Report: Well, I have to ask you this question then. Your very own Laksamana Sukardi, the former minister of state-owned enterprises, his name has been linked to the massive corruption case involving state oil and gas company Pertamina. He is not considered clean also. Isn’t PDP just a repackaged version of PDIP that spells more of the same for the Indonesian people?
Janis: If it is a problem, our party wouldn’t have grown as it has. This I told to Laksamana.
Van Zorge Report: So the people don’t believe the corruption allegations?
Janis: I can’t say so using words alone but we can prove it by the increasing number of supporters.
Van Zorge Report: Do you believe it?
Janis: I follow the people (laughs). The Attorney General’s Office couldn’t find any single mistake, corruption, on behalf of Mr Laksamana. This case was politically motivated.