Inquiry on Akbar delayed: Tosari
Inquiry on Akbar delayed: Tosari
A'an Suryana and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Legislators will be too busy in the coming months deliberating
bills and holding meetings in their respective commissions to put
the issue of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) scandal on the
agenda, according to House of Representatives deputy speaker
Tosari Wijaya.
Therefore, Tosari said on Friday, the House delayed the talks
that would have set in motion a House inquiry committee for Bulog
to March 7.
"This is just a matter of schedule. We can't insist on
deliberating the issue in February because it will disturb
activities of our commissions," Tosari of the United Development
Party (PPP) told The Jakarta Post at his office.
Bills slated to be deliberated by legislators during the
current House session include bills on money laundering,
electricity, and property rights.
According to Tosari, the House had also decided to prioritize
meetings in each commission by reducing plenary meetings,
including a plenary session scheduled to establish the special
inquiry team.
Tosari's statement just confirmed speculation that the House
was not serious in establishing the special committee to
investigate the Bulog scandal, that implicates House Speaker and
Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung.
Intensive lobbying by executives of Golkar has apparently
produced the desired affect.
The three largest factions in the House -- the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Golkar and PPP --
are all opposed to the establishment of the House inquiry.
Some legislators from PDI Perjuangan, including those who
joined other legislators in filing the request for the
establishment of the special inquiry, voiced differing opinions
from their party's official position.
Haryanto Taslam, for example, said such a committee of inquiry
would still be needed due to the weak legal system.
"We've known that the legal process is disappointing," he
said.
In the meantime a senior executive of PDI Perjuangan, Tarto
Sudiro, warned on Friday that the party would slap sanctions on
its legislators who deviated from the party's stance in the Bulog
scam.
"Should the legislators differ on the party's line, the
party's executive board will not hesitate to issue a formal
warning letter.
"More than that, this may end in their dismissal from the
party," said Tarto, who is the party's research and development
head.
Tarto expressed confidence that in the end, when there is a
plenary meeting to decide on the establishment of the special
inquiry, no party members would dissent.
"We are optimistic that not even a single member will deviate
from the party's stance," he said.
After getting a lot of support from PDI Perjuangan, Akbar
insisted that he would go to Mecca for haj, although, according
to some Muslim scholars, the pilgrimage should not be a priority
judging from his current status as a suspect in the Bulog scandal
and the fact that he had gone to Mecca before, in 1984.
Nevertheless, Akbar contended that "I went there (Mecca) alone
on that occasion. This time, I will go with my family members."
In addition, he said he had consulted with Religious Affairs
Minister Said Aqil Munawar on his decision, and the minister
supported his plan.
"I requested to leave on Feb. 14 on the last haj flight and
will return on the first flight. I've talked with the religious
affairs minister," Akbar told the press here.
Akbar assured the public that his travel to the Muslim holy
land was not aimed at avoiding the legal process of his alleged
involvement in the Rp 40 billion (US$4 million) scandal.
He denied speculation that he had been trying to use religious
sentiment to avoid questioning by the Attorney General's Office,
claiming he had arranged the schedule in advance.
Akbar was declared a suspect on Jan. 7 in the scandal. The
Attorney General's Office has since been summoning dozens of
witnesses to testify in the scandal.
The Attorney General's Office has also announced that it will
not issue an overseas travel ban on Akbar, but it is set to
summon him for questioning on Feb. 4.