Legislators waffle on inquiry into Akbar

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.