Megawati slow to decide on Puteh's suspension
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.