Interpellation plan gains supports from 277 legislators

Interpellation plan gains supports from 277 legislators

JAKARTA (JP): Some 277 legislators from the 500-member House
of Representatives have signed their names to a proposal to
interpellate President Abdurrahman Wahid over the recent firing
of two economic ministers.

The petition was handed over by Golkar Party legislator Ade
Khomaruddin to House Speaker Akbar Tandjung here on Friday.

Akbar said he would bring the letter to the House plenary
session on Monday.

"If the plenary session endorses the interpellation plan, it
will be deliberated further by the House's inter-faction board
(Bamus) on Wednesday and then the question will be sent to the
President," he said.

The interpellation move was proposed following dissatisfaction
following the president's decision to fire Minister of Industry
and Trade Yusuf Kalla and State Minister for Investment and
Empowerment of State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi.

Several legislators are still questioning the move despite the
House telling faction leaders that the two were involved in
corrupt, collusive and nepotistic practices.

Legislators who gave their signature to the interpellation
plan were mostly from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan), Golkar Party, National Mandate Party (PAN) and
United Development Party (PPP).

Not surprisingly the party which Abdurrahman helped establish,
the National Awakening Party (PKB), has objected to the plan
arguing that the President had fully revealed his reasons for
firing the two ministers in a closed-door consultative meeting
with the House.

Akbar warned that the House would fully investigate the matter
if the House is not satisfied with the President's answers over
the matter during the interpellation hearing.

"The great number of signatures shows strong political support
for the House to probe the case," he said.

House Deputy Speaker A.M. Fatwa said the House could set up a
special committee to investigate the case if the President does
not give an honest answer for the dismissals.

"Possible negative impact from the case could be that the
President will lose the people's confidence if he does not give a
truthful answer," he said.

He further warned that the present move to turn the People's
Consultative Assembly's General Session in August into a Special
Session could become a reality if the President does not make
changes to the way he is running his government.

"Many factors, including the social conflicts in several
provinces, the stagnant economic development, the interpellation
plan and the President's controversial statements, could lead the
MPR to propose a special session," he said.

Amien Aryoso, a member of the PDI Perjuangan faction, said
that the House's move was aimed not at toppling the government
but at seeking resolution.

"With the interpellation plan, PDI Perjuangan has no intention
of bringing down the legitimate government, we only want the
President to be extra-cautious in making a decision," he said.

He said PDI Perjuangan legislators' support for the
interpellation move would not effect Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri's image because she was not involved in the
decision-making process. (rms)