Lawmakers face disciplinary inquiry

Lawmakers face disciplinary inquiry

SURABAYA: The House of Representatives ethics committee was
urged on Tuesday to summon 15 lawmakers who are making a
controversial "comparative study" visit to Egypt.

"There are many things 'mysterious' about the visit, including
the question of permission, the activities involved and the
budget allocated for the trip. As public representatives, they
should have presented everything transparently to the public,"
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid
said in Surabaya, East Java.

He said the lawmakers should be taken to task by the ethics
committee for the 10-day visit that is costing US$76,170,
especially given that the 17 delegates, including two
secretaries, are slated to spend much of the time on recreational
activities.

A similar call was also made by National Mandate Party (PAN)
legislator Alvin Lie in Jakarta on Tuesday.

"The ethics committee is tasked with upholding the House's
reputation, while the 15 lawmakers' visit to Egypt has attracted
public attention. So, the committee should ask them to explain
themselves," Alvin said.

The delegates, all members of the House's Ways and Means
Committee, left for Cairo on Friday, despite a lack of permission
from House leaders, according to House Speaker Agung Laksono.
--Antara