KPKPN to summon leaders of City Council, Sutiyoso
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) will summon leaders of the City Council next week in connection with reports of money politics in the selection of gubernatorial candidates.
KPKPN deputy chairman Abdullah Hehamahua said that those who would be summoned included the chairman and deputies of the council, faction chairmen, commission chairmen, and other noted figures.
"We will summon leaders in the City Council like faction leaders, commission leaders and other noted public figures in the council," Abdullah, who deals with legislative affairs, told the media on Wednesday.
Some legislators admitted that money politics had been practiced early on in the gubernatorial election. A legislator, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said before the process in the City Council began, a gubernatorial candidate had invited a number of councillors to listen to their vision and mission.
"One of the candidates, for example, gave Rp 5 million to councillors attending an external hearing he organized to explain his programs," said the councillor.
Chairman of the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) Asas Tigor Nainggolan said that to pass the third round of the selection, a candidate should pay Rp 250 million per faction. A number of Councillors also received a short message service (SMS) offering Rp 600 million in return for supporting certain candidates in the final round of the gubernatorial election.
Meanwhile, Muhayat, another KPKPN official who deals with executive affairs, said that Governor Sutiyoso would be summoned on Thursday in connection with various reports from the people about his wealth.
According to Muhayat, Sutiyoso will also be questioned about reports of a Rp 1.6 billion fund he distributed as a symbol of reconciliation with 124 victims of the July 27, 1996 incident. The money was reportedly channeled through the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction. Sutiyoso denies that such a fund was dispersed.
The July 27 incident refers to the attack by the military and civilian supporters of PDI chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri's rival Soerjadi on the PDI headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta on July 27, 1996.
"We cannot explain the details now, but we will ask confirmation from him about his wealth reported by members of the public that is not included on his report to the KPKPN," Muhayat told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Muhayat said that Sutiyoso has confirmed he will answer the KPKPN's summons at 1 p.m.
Chairman of PDI Perjuangan faction Agung Imam Soemanto said that the money came from a businessman sympathetic to the victims.
Abdullah said his office had also received reports from the public about money politics in the City Council in connection with the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial elections.
According to Abdullah, his office would be able to track such illegal practices as data of wealth of civil servants and other state apparatus submitted to his office would be updated every year.
"They should report any change in their wealth whether it has reduced or is in excess of what had been reported to KPKPN. Therefore, if they received such illegal money it would become known as they would be under public scrutiny," he added.