Legislators waffle on inquiry into Akbar
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Unlike tiny parties which have little to lose, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) remains cautious on the establishment of a House of Representatives (DPR) inquiry team to investigate Speaker Akbar Tandjung's role in a corruption scam.
Akbar, also chairman of Golkar, was declared a suspect in a Rp 40 billion scandal involving the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) in early January. The Attorney General's Office has questioned him twice since and will do so again on Thursday.
"Most PDI Perjuangan members are praying for the establishment of an inquiry team," PDI Perjuangan faction chairman Roy B.B. Janis said after meeting with his party.
DPR members will gather for a plenary meeting on Thursday to decide whether or not to establish an inquiry team to probe Akbar's Bulog role.
A reliable party source told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that all but one PDI Perjuangan legislator supported the creation of a DPR probe.
PDI Perjuangan, the biggest faction with 153 seats in the House, is believed to be weighing the political cost if it goes for or against a probe, which could destroy Akbar's career and threaten Golkar's very existence.
However, supporting the inquiry team may mean losing Golkar's support of Megawati, who was installed last July with the support of an anti-Gus Dur coalition that included Golkar.
Golkar, the second biggest faction in the DPR with 120 seats, helped push Megawati into the State Palace. It already threatened to withdraw its support for Megawati when PDI Perjuangan pressed for Akbar's resignation last January.
Yet, opposing the establishment of such a probe would greatly undermine Megawati's promises to eradicate corruption, further eroding her rapidly diminishing legitimacy.
Meanwhile, other parties, led by PKB, have vowed to fight for an inquiry of Akbar.
PKB faction chairman Ali Masykur Musa said Tuesday that the meeting on Thursday could be an uphill battle.
As of Tuesday, only two small factions with only 17 voters have agreed to completely back a probe.
But, Ali Masykur still believes more will support the probe come Thursday.
"We may get 65 percent of the 500 legislators," he added.
PKB leaders instructed all members of its faction to support the probe.
"The faction members have also been urged to lobby other factions for support," deputy chairman of PKB Mahfud MD said.
Mahfud claimed that the PKB faction would not fight in vain.
"Even if we lose the battle, at least people will see that we fought for them," he said.
Meanwhile, a member of Reform faction, Patrialis Akbar said that members of his faction would support the inquiry.
"It was decided in the meeting that we must support it," he said.
The establishment of the special committee would assure that the legal process in the case was transparent.
"So far, the legal process is not transparent, therefore we hope a committee will be," he said.