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