Mahfud apologizes but stands by claims

Mahfud apologizes but stands by claims

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Mahfud MD apologized on
Thursday for alleging that the Golkar Party misused funds during
the 1999 general election, but not because his remarks were
inaccurate, rather for the "hurt" they caused the party.

"I realize that Golkar might not be happy about it. I will not
make any further reference (to it)," Mahfud told reporters after
inaugurating Ermaya Suradinata as governor of the National
Resilience Institute (Lemhannas).

Nevertheless, Mahfud, who has built a reputation during his
brief ministerial tenure by making controversial remarks, stopped
short of saying that his allegations were inaccurate.

Instead, he seemed to reinforce the allegations by saying that
he is prepared to testify to a House of Representatives special
committee if one is established to probe the matter.

He added that he is also ready to face Golkar in court if the
party deems it necessary to pursue a legal suit against him.

"I have that evidence," Mahfud boasted without elaborating any
further.

Mahfud claimed earlier this week that during a recent Cabinet
meeting he had been informed by Coordinating Minister for the
Economy Rizal Ramli that Golkar embezzled some Rp 90 billion from
the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to fund its election campaign.

Rizal himself has refused to comment on the matter.

A reliable source close to the Cabinet told The Jakarta Post
that the Cabinet had decided that Mahfud should be the only
person to go public with this allegation.

Golkar Party deputy treasurer Enggartiasto Lukito has denied
the party was involved in any financial impropriety, saying that
a full account of Golkar's books has been passed by the Supreme
Court and the General Elections Commission.

Separately, political observer Kusnanto Anggoro from the
Centre for Strategic and International Studies said the move to
investigate the misuse of the funds should not stop there, but
should be followed up by tracing the assets of all political
parties.

"I think Golkar still uses many state assets, like its
headquarters in Jakarta and several state employees from the
State Personnel Administrative Agency (BAKN) who still work for
the party. Golkar should return these assets to the state," he
said.

Kusnanto maintained that if Golkar suffers as a result of an
investigation into the source of these assets then it is a
consequence that cannot be avoided.(02/dja)