Move to question Megawati gains support

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The motion to question President Megawati Soekarnoputri over her approval of the controversial sale of state-owned telecommunications company PT Indosat gained greater momentum on Monday as more members of the House of Representatives (DPR) agreed to the initiative.

More than 70 members of the House contended that the divestment of government shares in PT Indosat should have been first approved by legislators before its majority shares were sold to Singapore Technologies Telemedia (STT).

The government sold 41.9 percent of its stake in PT Indosat to STT in December as part of its efforts to finance the country's 2003 State Budget.

The acquisition of PT Indosat by STT, however, has drawn strong criticism from the public, particularly members of the House of Representatives (DPR) who suspected that some part of the funds would be channeled to certain political parties to finance their campaigns for the 2004 general elections.

Ali Masykur Musa of the National Awakening Party (PKB) attested on Monday that over 70 legislators had signed the motion to interpellate the acquisition of majority shares in PT Indosat by STT.

One of its initiators, Rosyid Hidayat of the National Mandate Party (PAN), said that the motion was intended to give the general public a better understanding on the divestment process of PT Indosat.

"There are many dubious aspects in the divestment process that need explanation regarding the sales value," Rosyid said.

In regards public resentment towards the privatization of PT Indosat, he said that there had been many protests, particularly by the company's employees, against the state asset sales to STT.

Rosyid denied allegations that the motion was intended as another effort to impeach the president and that it would create political furor.

Achmad Muqowwam of the United Development Party (PPP) said that the motion, in fact, was designed to ask for the government's accountability on the fair and transparent sales of the state assets.

"We want to know if there has been KKN (corruption, collusion and nepotism) involved in the mechanism and procedure of the divestment," Muqowwam said.

"God willing, this will not become another impeachment process against the President, because we are guided by political ethics," he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

In mid-April last year, a number of legislators also signed a petition seeking Megawati's explanation on the use of non- budgetary funds to renovate housing for the Indonesian military (TNI) and the police, but failed in their efforts as the move did not receive support from fellow legislators.