Legislators move to summon Mega

Legislators move to summon Mega

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Legislators from different factions are attempting to forcibly
summon President Megawati Soekarnoputri to the House to explain
the source of her Rp 30 billion grant to the military and the
police.

Djamal Doa of the United Development Party (PPP) faction said
that he and fellow legislators were collecting signatures in
support for the plan.

"We plan to submit our proposal to the House leaders within
the next two days," Djamal told the press here on Tuesday.

The motion, known as interpellation, must be supported by 10
signatories from at least two different factions and needs a
majority support from the House.

The House in 2000 approved a motion by a group of legislators
to seek clarification from former president Abdurrahman Wahid
over his decision to dismiss Golkar's Jusuf Kalla and Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Laksamana Sukardi
from the Cabinet.

Djamal claimed that he had so far won the backing of seven
legislators from different factions. They are Afni Achmad and
Ambia B. Boestam of Reform faction, Andi Najmi Fuadi and Imang
Mansur of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Seto Harianto of
the Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB), and Hasanuddin
Mochdar and Azwir Dainy Tara of Golkar.

Separately, Ambia said the move was merely aimed to clarify
from where the President raised the funds, and whether the donors
of the money had been informed.

"We are wondering if the donors want compensation from the
President. For this purpose, we want clarification from her,"
Boestam added.

Megawati is using the money to help the Indonesian Military
(TNI) and National Police renovate houses of lower ranking
officers. The fund was handed over on Feb. 25 to TNI commander
Adm. Widodo A.S. during a visit to several housing complexes for
soldiers.

However, the President has declined to explain where the money
came from.

In response to the move, Aberson Marle Sihaloho of PDI
Perjuangan said the legislators clearly did not understand the
workings of the budget.

"The motion is irrelevant, because the fund given to the
security forces is already included in the state budget," said
Aberson, a member of the House Commission IX on budget affairs.

Aberson, a senior politician of PDI Perjuangan, said the fund
was a portion of the state budget allocated for the security
forces.

"The President has the right to disburse the money if urgently
needed," he said.