Muladi, Bagir Manan nomination endorsed

Muladi, Bagir Manan nomination endorsed

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) legislators walked out on Thursday as the House of
Representatives (DPR) plenary session endorsed the candidacy of
Muladi and Bagir Manan as the Supreme Court Chief.

Only legislator Marah Simon of the 81 PDI Perjuangan
legislators attending the session, remained seated until the
session was over.

"I'm just being consistent with the recommendation of the
House Commission II (on domestic and legal affairs) which had
nominated Muladi and Bagir Manan," Simon, who represents West
Sumatra, told reporters after the session.

The party's senior legislator, Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, asked
permission from his colleagues to lead the session, although he
supported the walkout.

"I ask (your) permission to lead the session," Soetardjo, who
is also Deputy House Speaker, told his fellow party members.

The session started with a statement by legislator Tjahjo
Kumolo who expressed the fact that the PDI Perjuangan faction
disagreed with the nomination of Muladi and Bagir.

Tjahjo said both Muladi and Bagir did not meet the
requirements set by the faction, which included their personal
integrity and honesty.

Faction chairman, Arifin Panigoro, told reporters after the
session about its objection against the two nominees, especially
Muladi, who had been connected to a certain political party and
was close to the new order regime.

Muladi, who was a former Golkar Party executive, was also
minister of justice under then president Soeharto and
minister/state secretary under then president B.J. Habibie.

Tjahjo's statement in the session was interrupted by other
House legislators, including Patrialis Akbar from the National
Mandate Party (PAN) faction, who claimed that PDI Perjuangan had
been ambivalent with the nomination.

"The decision to nominate Muladi and Bagir involved all
factions in the House. And the decision should be respected,"
said Patrialis, who is also a member of Commission II.

Due to the interruptions, Soetardjo then suspended the session
for 15 minutes to give leaders of the House's 10 factions the
opportunity to lobby each other.

After the suspension, Soetardjo announced that the PDI
Perjuangan faction demanded the nomination be adjourned until
next year to give the legislators more time to discuss it
further.

He, however, said that the demand was rejected as the
incumbent deputy Supreme Court Chief would retire early next
year, while the Chief Justice was already retired.

PDI Perjuangan then decided to walk out from the session since
it refused to vote in the session which was attended by 260
legislators of the 500-member House.

As the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction expressed that
it would abstain from the vote, Soetardjo banged the gavel,
indicating the session's approval on the candidacy of Muladi and
Bagir.

The PDI Perjuangan legislators' decision to walk out was
regretted by other legislators, especially Commission II members.
Commission II is chaired by PDI Perjuangan legislator Amin
Aryoso.

Idrus Markham of Golkar Party deplored Amin for betraying the
agreement reached by the commission to nominate Muladi and Bagir.

"What is his responsibility as the commission chairman? At
least, he should not walk out, despite his friends doing so,"
Idrus said.

He said he would ask Amin to resign from the commission or
suggest that the commission members dismiss him.

"Amin has failed to communicate the results of the commission
to his friends in the faction," Idrus said.

PDI Perjuangan's decision to walk out was taken as some of the
party legislators failed to nominate another candidate, Soeharto,
a career justice, he said.

Amin, however, defended his decision to join the walkout as a
member of the faction and not in his capacity as the chairman of
Commission II.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said the move taken by the PDI
Perjuangan legislators was uncommon, but reminded that the
decision had legally been endorsed by the plenary session.

President Abdurrahman Wahid constitutionally will choose one
of the two candidates to be the new Supreme Court Chief. (jun)