Lawmakers face rift over plan to axe colleague

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An internal conflict among legislators on the House of Representatives Commission III for legal, security and human rights was cracked wide open on Wednesday after a plan to get one of them recalled was unveiled on Wednesday.

Commission III deputy chairman Akil Mochtar said commission members would hold an internal meeting to discuss a request to recall Djoko Edhi Soetjipto Abdurrahman from the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction due to his "controversial behavior".

The planned dismissal was apparently in response to Djoko's public claim that several commission members, including Akil, had embezzled state money during a working visit to Bali earlier this month.

Djoko, who was meant to be in the working visit delegation, said he was to sign a report of payment for a 10-day visit, while the actual period was only four days (July 9 to July 12). He eventually decided not to participate.

A copy of the payment report says each participating legislator was to get Rp 13 million (US$1,333) for a 10-day working visit, with spaces for signatures of the legislator and House secretariat treasurer Sumarman.

But Akil said an internal meeting had ordered the lawmakers to return the remainder of the money if the itinerary was fewer days than scheduled, adding that Djoko did not attend the meeting.

"While other legislators were busy with the working visit, he was talking nonsense. We will ask to have him recalled from Commission III when we resume sitting next month," Akil said.

Among the legislators on the working visit were Akil, Taufikurrahman Saleh, Al Muzamil Yusuf, Nadrah Izahari, Agun Gunandjar and Nursjahbani Katjasungkana.

"This isn't the first time he has made a controversial statement. He (Djoko) also fails to coordinate with other legislators and often sends (personal) letters on behalf of the House. Even I, as a commission leader, have never done that," Akil said.

Recently, Djoko also claimed that several members of the commission had received bribes from people involved in crimes, such as smuggling sugar into Indonesia.

Akil said he had held informal talks with PAN faction chairman Abdillah Toha about Djoko's behavior. Only the faction has the right to deploy or withdraw a legislator from his or her legislative post.

Responding to the issue, Abdillah said his faction was not considering taking any action against Djoko as the commission had not taken a formal stance.

"Pak Akil only told me that some commission members are angry with Djoko and he would later be summoned (by the PAN faction). But there's nothing further than that," Abdillah said.

Apart from discussing the request to recall Djoko, Commission II will also report him to the House disciplinary council, Akil said.

Responding to the move, Djoko said he was certain he was not in the wrong, claiming that he had proof to defend his statement.

"If they want to report me, that would be fine because I'm telling the truth. I sent a letter to the House secretariat regarding this overpayment, with copies sent to House leaders and the finance ministry. But there has been no response yet," he said.