Interpellation no plot to overthrow govt: PDI faction
Interpellation no plot to overthrow govt: PDI faction
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) faction at the House of Representatives here on
Monday assured that the majority support for an interpellation
was not aimed at toppling President Abdurrahman Wahid.
Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan faction at the House, Arifin
Panigoro, told journalists that his faction's support for an
interpellation plan was merely a way to check on the government.
"PDI Perjuangan has no objection to the President's decision
to dismiss Laksamana Sukardi and Yusuf Kalla but wants to seek
clarification about reasons behind the firings so that the
government doesn't turn authoritarian," he said.
The House in its plenary session on Monday agreed to hand over
the interpellation plan to be deliberated further by the House's
committee in charge of deliberating policies (Bamus).
Last Friday, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung received a list of
277 signatures of legislators from five House factions supporting
the interpellation plan.
PDI Perjuangan and Golkar Party legislators made up the bulk
of the petition.
No less than 125 of 147 PDI Perjuangan legislators and 99 of
113 Golkar Party legislators in the House signed the petition for
an interpellation.
Other support came from the Reform and United Development
Party (PPP) factions.
Panigoro pointed out that the interpellation plan was not
against the constitution because the House has the right to
interpellate the President on any controversial decision and
policies he made.
"The check and balance between the House and the government
must be upheld in accordance with the democratic system. That is
why the President should not consider the interpellation plan as
a move from certain factions of the House to bring down the
government," he said.
But another PDI Perjuangan legislator, Yoseph Umarhadi, warned
that the interpellation plan could be manipulated by other
factions to discredit the government and to propose a vote of no-
confidence in the People's Consultative Assembly General Session
in August.
"It is better for the President to be honest on the reasons
behind his decision to fire the two ministers. If the President
is not honest and the House is not satisfied with the President's
explanation, it could raise further political consequences. The
House could propose an investigation into the case," he said.
He acknowledged that his party was disappointed with
Laksamana's firing because he was widely known as an honest
figure in the party.
"We are disappointed that he was accused of corrupt, collusive
and nepotistic practices and also over the fact that Laksamana's
successor was not taken from our party," he said.
Amien Aryoso, chairman of the House's commission on home
affairs, called on House factions not to manipulate the
interpellation plan to bring down the government considering the
chaotic domestic situation.
Hamzah Haz, PPP chairman, said in Jepara, Central Java, on
Sunday that his party would support a move of no-confidence
against the government if the President was proven to have failed
in adhering to Assembly decrees. (rms)