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.