More delays on Pansus decision likely

Kurniawan Hari and Annastashya Emmannuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Another delay to the decision over the establishment of the House of Representatives' committee of inquiry into a financial scandal implicating House Speaker Akbar Tandjung remains wide open, a top legislator says.

Deputy House speaker Tosari Widjaja said on Thursday it was up to House legislators whether they vote or further postpone the decision over a motion to investigate Akbar's involvement in the scandal when they convene on March 18.

"If legislators fail to reach an agreement on March 18, there will be two possibilities: They can either vote or delay the decision," Tosari said, after presiding over a meeting of the House steering committee.

The meeting, which was attended by only 37 of the committee's 76 members, decided that the crucial plenary House session would follow another session to endorse the bill on the ratification of a treaty on space exploration.

The House delayed last week the decision of the motion to allow the Attorney General's Office to speed up its investigation into the case.

Golkar legislator Hafiz Zawawi said that his faction would vote against the plan to set up the inquiry committee, known by its Indonesian acronym Pansus, into Akbar, who is Golkar's leader.

Hafiz said the Pansus was irrelevant now that the case was being handled by the Attorney General's Office.

Golkar, the second largest faction in the House, has been successful in delaying the establishment of the inquiry committee, which would investigate state officials involved in the misuse of Rp 40 billion belonging to the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).

The motion to form the Pansus was submitted by 50 inter- faction legislators last October. The steering committee had even failed to arrange a date for a House plenary session to hear the motion, which eventually materialized on Feb. 21.

In comparison, legislators needed only about three weeks to set up a similar inquiry committee to investigate the involvement of then president Abdurrahman Wahid in the misuse of Rp 35 billion belonging to Bulog and US$2 million humanitarian aid from Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

Separately, Vice President Hamzah Haz, who chairs the third largest United Development Party (PPP), said the establishment of the Pansus was unnecessary because the legal process of Akbar's case had already gone ahead. Akbar is under detention pending his trial.

"It is better if no special committee is set up. The matter is being handled by the law enforcement body," Hamzah said, as quoted by Ratu Dian Hatifah, the chairwoman of the Association of Nahdlatul Ulama Women (IPPNU).

IPPNU executives met with Hamzah on Thursday.

According to Hamzah, Akbar's case was different to the previous Bulog scandal, which led to the ousting of Abdurrahman. Hamzah said the Bulog scam last year was related to the presidency as an institution, while the latest scandal involved Akbar as an individual.

Separately, Panda Nababan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said his party would hold a meeting on March 17 to discuss the final stance of the party concerning the establishment of the inquiry committee.

In the meantime, officials from the fourth largest faction, the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, and the Reform faction renewed their support for the Pansus.

Chairman of the Reform faction Ahmad Farhan Hamid emphasized that the official stance of his faction had been raised at a plenary meeting last week.

He added that his faction would back the setting up of the inquiry committee, but warned of excessive maneuvers from legislators, which may affect the performance of the House. He did not elaborate on what he meant by excessive measures.

Golkar's efforts to halt the House inquiry committee

Oct. 23, 2001

- Akbar Tandjung meets Taufik Kiemas, asking PDI Perjuangan to reject the proposal to form the inquiry committee.

Nov. 22, 2001

- Golkar legislators say they haven't received copies of the proposal; the steering committee meeting is adjourned until Nov. 28.

Nov. 28, 2001

- Golkar turns the meeting into a debate; the meeting is again adjourned until Dec. 6.

Dec. 6, 2001

- Golkar refuses including the proposal in the agenda of the House plenary meeting; the meeting is adjourned until Dec. 10.

Dec. 10, 2001

- The steering committee votes for a House plenary meeting to decide the establishment of an inquiry team; the session is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2002.

Jan. 21, 2002

- Legislators agree to delay the plenary meeting until March 7 to hear the views of 10 factions.

March 7, 2002

- Factions read their views; legislators agree to delay the decision until March 18.