Megawati slow to decide on Puteh's suspension
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri is apparently buying time before responding to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)'s order to suspend Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh for alleged graft.
She said on Tuesday she needed to hear further explanations from the commission, which has also issued an order for Puteh's arrest.
Citing the absence of the term "suspension" in laws on regional administrations, Megawati said the KPK should make it clear whether it wanted Puteh dismissed or not.
"We have to consider the regulations, which only state that the President can appoint and dismiss governors," she told journalists at her official residence.
"The law does not mention suspending regional heads," she stressed.
The KPK sent an official letter to Megawati on Friday ordering Puteh's suspension after naming him a suspect in a graft case in connection with the purchase of a Russian helicopter, which cost the country at least Rp 4 billion (US$5.4 million) in losses.
The governor has twice defied summonses for questioning at the KPK office, while interim chief security minister Hari Sabarno asked the commission to be flexible in dealing with Puteh, who is also the administrator of Aceh's civil state of emergency.
Speculation has surfaced that some top political leaders gave tacit backing for Puteh to evade investigation.
A prominent Acehnese figure has said a tug-of-war over Puteh's possible replacement as Aceh governor and the civil emergency administrator had delayed his suspension.
The military has proposed at least four people to fill the post, including the incumbent National Military Police commander, Maj. Gen. Sulaeman AB, who is slated to hand over his position to a successor on Aug. 5, he added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs was rumored to have proposed several other candidates to replace Puteh, while Acehnese figures insist that an Acehnese take over the job.
On Tuesday, Hari said he would install the Aceh deputy governor to replace Puteh as the governor, should the President suspend him.
"The deputy governor would do daily administrative work but for the position of civil emergency administrator, a new person will be appointed by the President," he said.
The minister said the KPK had the authority to order Puteh's suspension but underlined it should be made according to the law.
Based on its authority, the KPK can order the governor be detained for questioning should he refuse to heed its third summons.
Puteh's lawyers said their client would comply with the commission's summons for questioning on Wednesday, although the governor has filed a lawsuit with a district court to challenge the KPK's decision to declare him a suspect.